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A new recording, a journey through the Renaissance, and a sparkling contemporary oratorio highlight Conspirare’s next season under the direction of artistic director Craig Hella Johnson.
Sing Freedom: African American Spirituals
September 30, 2010, Georgetown, Klett Performing Arts Center
October 1-2, 2010, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
October 3, 2010, Austin, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
October 5, 2010, Goshen, Indiana, Goshen College Sauder Concert Hall
Among the most essential American music, spirituals are dramatic, powerful, and often profoundly beautiful. The spiritual is a foundational genre for so much modern American music. In our exploration of the spiritual we hope to demonstrate its full range of color and expression, and how completely it speaks to the universal human condition.
Harmonia Mundi Recording
In addition to the live performances, Conspirare will continue its successful partnership with distinguished label Harmonia Mundi by recording the spirituals program at Goshen College’s acoustically renowned Sauder Concert Hall. The CD is scheduled for release in spring 2011.
Christmas at the Carillon
December 2, 2010, Victoria, First United Methodist Church
December 3, 2010, San Antonio, Laurel Heights Methodist Church
December 4-5, 2010, Austin, The Carillon
December 6, 2010, (Carillon Gala), Austin, The Long Center
Conspirare’s popular holiday concert features guest vocalist Patrice Pike, whose heartfelt performances in last year’s “Carillon” series brought cheering audiences to their feet. Craig Hella Johnson and the professional voices of Conspirare again weave diverse musical threads – sacred and secular, classical and pop, old and new – into one seamless whole.
Renaissance and Response: Polyphony Then and Now
January 21-23, 2011, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
A dramatic concert series over a single weekend explores the riches of Renaissance polyphony (“many voices”) and its enduring influences. The series comprises four distinct programs featuring works by Josquin, Lassus, Victoria, and Bach. Each concert will also feature a world premiere composition by Robert Kyr (“A Time for Life”) written in response to the early masters.
Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina ‘For Peace’
June 11, 2011, Victoria, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
June 12, 2011, Austin, The Long Center
The season closes with a choral-orchestral spectacular, the Austin premiere of Puerto Rican composer Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina ‘For Peace’. Acclaimed soprano Heidi Grant Murphy and baritone Nathaniel Webster, featured on the recording of this buoyant work, will appear with a performing force of nearly two hundred musicians from Conspirare, the Victoria Bach Festival, and the Texas State Chorale under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson.
Conspirare Special Events
THE CARILLON GALA
Pre-concert reception, seated dinner, and dessert and champagne after-party with the artists. Admission to the after-party only is also available.
Mon, Dec. 6, 2010, Reception begins 6:00PM, Austin, Kodosky Donor Lounge, The Long Center
HIDDEN MUSIC VI
Conspirare’s annual spring fundraiser, featuring intimate performances by Craig Hella Johnson and friends.
Tues., May 3, 2011, 6:00PM, Austin, University of Texas Alumni Center
Conspirare Youth Choirs Concerts
December 10-11, 2010, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
May 6-7, 2011, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Conspirare’s youngest singers perform in two delightful concerts that showcase their joyful artistry. Both youth ensembles, Kantorei and Conspirare Children’s Choir, will appear in the holiday concert “Awaiting” and a spring series entitled “Voices of Joy.”
Big Sings
November 11, 2010, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
February 24, 2011, Austin, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Conspirare brings back the Big Sing, its hugely popular free event where the audience is the choir. Inaugurated last season to capacity crowds, the Big Sing offers the community an opportunity to lift their voices together. Conspirare’s artistic director Craig Hella Johnson leads each Big Sing in breathing exercises, vocal warm-ups, and simple songs.
Carmina Burana
September 24-26, 2010, Austin, Long Center
Enjoy Ballet Austin’s encore production, choreographed by Stephen Mills, of the ever-popular Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, a collaboration of the Conspirare Symphonic Choir, the Conspirare Youth Choirs, Ballet Austin, and the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
