Brass, Brahms, and Britten
The National Presbyterian Church
Sunday, April 14, 2013 | 5:00pm
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Choral Arts is grateful to its Season Sponsors, including:
General Dynamics
First Potomac Realty Trust • InScope International, Inc.
McLaughlin Ryder Investments, Inc. • Northrop Grumman
PE Systems • Salient Federal Solutions |
HERE'S WHAT CONCERT-GOERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT BRASS, BRAHMS, AND BRITTEN
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"[Scott] Tucker charged into every item on the program, demonstrating he is clearly an ardent, driven champion fully in command at every moment."
Cecelia H. Porter, The Washington Post
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"Thank you for the experience of having the singers surround the audience. It was probably the first time I've experienced choral music instead of just listening to choral music.
It was remarkable and time seemed to stop. To hear and feel the musical vibrations dance around me was an experience I will treasure."
Elaine Maslamani, Chair, Choral Arts Young Patrons
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Choral Arts "is a large ensemble of beautifully blended voices that echo throughout the cathedral with glorious vibrato...
This evening of Brass, Brahms and Britten was a wonderful example of a disciplined chorus who has excellent vocal beauty in their performances."
Linda Pellegrino, Metropolitan Arts
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"Everyone I spoke with after the concert yesterday was enthusiastic and, really, joyous!
Several remarked on how much they liked the design of the concert and how well the pieces all worked together... Several people
mentioned especially their pleasure in seeing '360 eyes looking up' at the end of the concert.
For me, it was thrilling and moving... Since choral music is indeed about community and communication, I loved seeing the many
expressions on Scott’s face, and had a sense of making music together, rather than just singing my part diligently."
Peggy Wilson, chorister
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 Thank you for joining us for
Brass, Brahms, and Britten -
Scott Tucker's first full-length classical concert as Artistic Director of Choral Arts. Audiences enjoyed the mingling of
170 Choral Arts voices with brass and organ, played by Julie Huang, in the expansive space of
The National Presbyterian.
The concert moved thematically from the last days of wrath and judgment to hope and celebration and beyond reaching fanciful and fantastical heights.
The concert opened with
Paul Hindemith’s Apparebit repentina dies which is a setting of an ancient liturgical poem. It was then followed by two
Johannes Brahms pieces, both new to Choral Arts repertoire:
Warum is das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen? and
Laß dich nur nichts nicht dauren. The first half ended in deep comfort with another new entry into Choral Arts’ repertoire
William Walton’s Antiphon.
The second half begans with the celebration of
O Clap Your Hands by Ralph Vaughn Williams, and was followed by
Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, another first for Choral Arts. Brass, Brahms, and Britten ended with three
Giovanni Gabrieli works, including
Canzon XVI à 12,
O Jesu mi dulcissime, and
Jubilate Deo, showcasing polychoral antiphonal style using the space of The National Presbyterian Church as an expressive element.
Following
Brass, Brahms, and Britten, audience members mingled with
Choral Arts choristers,
members of the Board of Directors and
Young Patrons, and staff in Stone Hall.
Scott Tucker shared with those in attendance his plans for the 2013-2014 season, the first season he has planned for Choral Arts.
PERFORMANCE
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Choral Arts Chorus performs at The National
Presbyterian Church. |
Scott Tucker conducts Brass, Brahms, and Britten. |
Scott Tucker conducts chorus and musicians from
center of the house for antiphonal effect. |
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Singers performed in the altar as well as the
Church's left and right transepts. |
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SCOTT TUCKER THANKS EVENT SPONSORS
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Scott Tucker
thanks Choral Arts Board Chair
Barbara
Rossotti
and husband
Charles
, who underwrote
Brass, Brahms, and Britten. |
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Charles Cerf and
Cindy Dunbar (left);
Karen Florini and
Neil Ericsson (middle); and
Anne Keiser and
Doug Lapp (right)for supporting the post-concert reception.
All six sponsors are members of the Choral Arts Chorus, and Cerf, Florini, and Keiser currently serve on the Choral Arts Board of Directors. |
CHORAL ARTS' MUSICAL FORCES
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Scott Tucker and
Norman Scribner
, Founder and
Artistic Director Emeritus. |
Choral Arts' Artistic team:
Brandon Straub,
Associate Conductor and Pianist;
Jeffery Hart,
Director of Artistic Operations; and
Jon-Michael
Eclar
, Assistant to the Artistic Director and
Chorus Manager. |
Julie Huang
, Brass, Brahms, and Britten organ player,
member of the Choral Arts Chorus and Scott Tucker. |
DC'S ARTS COMMUNITY FULL FORCE PRESENCE
Many members of the DC-Metro arts community attended Brass, Brahms, and Britten including (not pictured)
Ann Meier-Baker, President and CEO, Chorus America, and her husband tenor
Robert Baker; and
Gerry Perman, Founder, Vocal Arts DC.
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Wayne Brown, Music and Opera Director, National
Endowment for the Arts with
Debra Kraft and
Pat
Kramer, Choral Arts's new Director of Development. |
Deborah Lamberton, WETA-FM Senior Producer and
the concert's host, with
Stanley Thurston, Artistic
Director, WPAS Men, Women, and Children of the
Gospel, partner for Living the Dream... Singing
the Dream. |
Choral Arts chorister
Paul Leavitt, composer and
organist featured during An Enchanted Christmas
with Choral Arts members
Heather MacDonald and
Ed Hoover, and Norman Scribner. |
Scott Tucker talks with
Chris Zimmerman and
Debra Harrison, Fairfax Symphony's Artistic Director
and President/CEO, respectively. |
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Scott Tucker gets a congratulatory hug from Choral
Arts chorister
Ann Stahmer, Executive Director,
The City Choir of Washington. |
Diana Saez, Artistic Director, Coral Cantigas,
Patrick
McCoy, Washington Life, which recently
published a feature on Scott Tucker
and
Caroline Edwards. |
Scott Tucker with Choral Arts chorister
Jan
Bexhoeft and
Mark Ohnmact, Director of
Development, Washington Concert Opera.
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Tom Colohan, Artistic Director, Washington Master
Chorale with Debra Kraft. |
MORE CHORAL ARTS FRIENDS
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Debra Kraft and
Karen Schuiling. |
Choral Arts member
Kandie Stroud,
Cynthia Fehr,
and
Catherine Jones, Choral Arts Holiday Gala
Finance Chair. |
Scott Tucker with Choral Arts choristers Erica
Frohman and
Karen D
oyne, member of the Board of
Directors. |
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Choral Arts choristers
Nadine Wethington (also a
member of the Board of Directors),
Peggy Wilson,
and Scott Tucker. |
Jerry Appleman, a friend of Scott Tucker joins the
Brass, Brahms, and Britten audience. |
Choral Arts choristers
Dileep Srihari,
Catherine
Pfaffenroth*,
Alexandra Swartsel*, and
Ryan Burress
with
Mike Rowan (middle). *are active members of
the Young Patrons Steering Committee. |
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Choral Arts Chorus and Board member
Patricia Yee
with
Linda McGuire. |
Scott Tucker with friend
David Flaxman, who
continues to sing after taking his first singing class
with Tucker during an adult summer school course. |
Choral Arts choristers
Ariel Gold and
Judy Dodge
celebrate a fine performance immediately
after the concert. |
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Scott Tucker thanks 99 year old
Mabel Sawhill, who
catered the 500 person reception. |
Choral Arts chorus member
Sherman Wright
connects with former Choral Arts member
Ruby
Robertso
n (right). |
Sarah Christine DeBoer, a singer at Scott Tucker's
former church choir in Ithaca, attends the concert. |
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