Minnesota Chorale
Kathy Saltzman Romey, Artistic Director
Allegro Choral Academy, Bel Canto Choir
Gregory Douma, Conductor
Gaia Philharmonic Choir and Yokohama Chamber Choir "Kai"
Ko Matsushita, Conductor
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
William Schrickel, Music Director
Minneapolis Youth Chorus
Patrice Arasim, Conductor
Mu Daiko
Rick Shiomi, Director
Next week,
the Chorale and partnering artists, all under the direction of Kathy
Saltzman Romey, will present the world premiere of Ah Nagasaki
in St. Paul, which since 1955 has maintained an active sister-city
relationship with Nagasaki (the first of its kind in the United
States). Joining the Chorale will be the Metropolitan
Symphony Orchestra, the Chorale's own Minneapolis
Youth Chorus and the Bel Canto choir of the Allegro
Choral Academy, taiko (traditional Japanese) drummers from Mu
Daiko, and vocal soloists. Members of the Gaia Philharmonic
Choir and Yokohama Chamber Choir "Kai" and their conductor,
Ko Matsushita, will travel from Japan to take part in both the performance
and the educational programs surrounding the event.
The performance and education programs are presented
by
The O'Shaughnessy and
planet Ordway as part of their 2008-09 series, and will be held
at The O'Shaughnessy at the College of St. Catherine. In addition
to the premiere performance of Ah Nagasaki, the concert
will feature individual presentations by each of the participating
ensembles.
 Sub-titled
“Ashes into Light,” the centerpiece of the program is a three-movement,
half-hour cantata for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra by the
American composer Robert Kyr. The work was commissioned by the Nagasaki
Peace Museum to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing
of the city; the text, in both Japanese and English, is a collaboration
between Mr. Kyr and the Japanese writer Kazuaki Tanahashi. The musical
forces called for are large: four soloists (soprano, alto, tenor,
and baritone), boy and girl soprano, mixed (adult) choirs, children's
choirs, chanter, and orchestra (with a percussion section that includes
Japanese taiko drums as well as Western instruments). This visionary
work is a journey from the profound tragedy of nuclear annihilation
to reconciliation and 'waging peace' as a means of freeing the world
from weapons of mass destruction.
Images created by artist Kazuaki
Tanahashi, librettist for "Ah Nagasaki."
Free bonus concert offered!
Traditional music sung a cappella by two visiting Japanese
choirs, a set by the Twin Cities-based taiko drumming ensemble Mu
Daiko, and an excerpt from Robert Kyr's Ah Nagasaki: Ashes into
Light will be featured in a family-friendly concert on Sunday,
October 12, at 4:00 p.m., at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church,
Minneapolis. This free, hour-long concert is part of the
church's Music at Hennepin series.
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church is located at 511 Groveland
Avenue, across Hennepin Avenue from the Walker Art Center. For map
& directions, click
here. Free parking is plentiful. For further information, please
call the church at 612.871.5303.
Members of the Gaia Philharmonic Choir of Tokyo,
who will perform with
the Yokohama Chamber Choir "Kai" and the Minnesota Chorale during concerts on Oct. 11 and 12.
Interested
in reading more about choral singing and community engagement?
Click here for
Shekela Wanyama's thoughtful and provocative paper on the subject.
Click
here to learn more about past Bridges programs |
