Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius"

While not technically travel, this post is something which my family and friends could not attend, so I am including here.

As many of you know, I sing with the North Carolina Master Chorale (NCMC). The NCMC is regularly hired by the NC Symphony to perform large choral works. Last spring it was a work by Mahler. This quarter is was Elgar's "Gerontius".

The program read, "In a North Carolina premiere, Grant Llewellyn will lead the orchestra and the North Carolina Master Chorale in a work rarely performed outside of Britain. Cardinal Newman's poem tells of the journey of a man's soul after death – 'Gerontius' may be translated roughly as 'old man.' Elgar was given a copy of the poem in 1889 as a wedding present. 'This is Elgar’s greatest masterpiece,' says Llewellyn. 'It’s a large-scale chorus, a sweeping, emotional work.' "

I continue to return to this group specifically because of these opportunities. There is nothing to compare to performing with a world-class orchestra. The sound is incredible! It doesn't hurt that both our director and of course Grant Llewellyn treat rehersals and performances as professional, non-nonsense affairs. Appeals to my Germanic side... Grant's British public school accent doesn't hurt either.

I'd love to invite some of you to attend next year's performances. Next year's line up with the symphony currently includes;

September 28-29: an extraordinary semi-staged production of Mozart’s ever-popular opera, The Marriage of Figaro. Along with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir, the world-class cast includes Sari Gruber, Christopheren Nomura, Krista River, and portraying Countess and Count Almaviva, a real-life married couple, Barbara Shirvis and Stephen Powell. Noted director Marc Verzatt, whose credits include the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Atlanta Opera, Toledo Opera, National Grand Opera and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, will bring his considerable talents to this enterprise as the combined forces showcase Mozart at the very height of his powers.

Nov. 23-25, 2007: William Henry Curry, Resident Conductor North Carolina Master Chorale Holiday Pops Jingle up the winter season with the North Carolina Symphony’s beloved, traditional Holiday Pops concert featuring the North Carolina Master Chorale and the annual sing-along.

December 7: Handel's Messiah (unconfirmed)

Mar. 14-15, 2008: Grant Llewellyn, Music Director Peter Serkin, piano, North Carolina Master Chorale
Bach: Cantata No. 118, “O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht” Stravinsky: Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments Stravinsky: Concerto in E-flat (Dumbarton Oaks) Bach: Cantata No. 50, “Nun ist das heil” Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
In this unusual program, Grant Llewellyn explores the deep connection between Bach and Stravinsky, aided by his guest soloist, the incomparable Peter Serkin. Stravinsky’s fascination in the second half of his career with music of the Baroque, and his idol Bach in particular, is the inspiration for this program which bounces back and forth over 200 years of musical history. The concert ends with Stravinsky’s profound Symphony of Psalms, featuring the North Carolina Master Chorale.

Date Not Yet Set: Karel Husa: Violin Concerto Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, “Choral”
Steely-toned firebrand violinist Ilya Gringolts is featured in Karl Husa’s Violin Concerto. Husa, a national hero in his native Czechoslovakia, is one of the world’s most famous living composers and currently lives in Cary. His granddaughter, Maria Evola, plays in the violin section of the North Carolina Symphony. The concerto was written for the 150th anniversary of the New York Philharmonic. This powerful program closes with Beethoven’s supreme Symphony No. 9, “Choral,” featuring North Carolina Master Chorale, the Durham Choral Society Chamber Choir and a cast of extraordinary soloists

In case any of you wondered what professional musicians look like when they're not wearing black and white, I snapped a couple of photos during "dress" rehersals with my trusty cell phone.