The Century Theater will host an ambitious concert jointly
performed by over 240 people from two leading US choirs and a
Chinese orchestra on July 14.
Invited by the Ministry of Culture and sponsored by New York Life
International, 150 members from the Hartford Chorale and New York
Choral Society will sing accompanied by China Film Symphony
Orchestra under the baton of Henley Denmead, artistic director of
the Hartford Chorale.
The chorale comprises of more than 160 men and women selected
annually by a competitive audition.
The singers are from the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and
New York and come from diverse occupations.
For the past 28 years, the Hartford Chorale has delighted audiences
both young and old with exciting performances of the great choral
works.
During those years, the Chorale has taken pride in the fact that
the group has always been profitable.
Denmead has been the choir's artistic director and principal
conductor since its establishment in 1972.
He
holds degrees in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College
and Indiana University.
In
1998, he made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the choir.
He
has also been guest conductor with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra,
the Hartford Chamber Orchestra and the Hartford Symphony
Orchestra.
Founded in 1958, the New York Choral Society has earned a
reputation as New York's leading non-professional choir.
It
has become known by audiences and critics for the quality of its
performances and the diversity of its repertoire, which encompasses
popular choral works as well as many compositions rarely heard in
concert halls.
The chorus was most hailed for its "verve and assurance" by US
magazine News Day, and applauded as "professional in every
way except vocation" by the New York Daily News.
Denmead said the Beijing trip was "a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity."
"We've toured before, but always in Europe. To share this music
with people of a culture so different from ours is bound to be a
unique experience," he said.
"It's going to be a thrilling experience. There will certainly be
some challenges, including very limited rehearsal time with the
orchestra - not to mention the language barrier. But we're looking
forward to giving three terrific concerts."
Despite the limited preparation, China Film Symphony Orchestra is
pulling out all stops for the collaboration.
"We will present the best line-up of the orchestra for the choral
concert," said Zhang Zhige, vice-president of the orchestra.
In
the first half of the concert, the audiences will enjoy some old
American favorites such as "Simple Gifts," "At the River," "Long
Time Ago," "Zion's Wall" and Bernstein's "Chischester Psalms."
There will also be selections from "The Sound of Music" composed by
Richard Rodgers including "Do-Re-Mi" and "Climb Every
Mountain."
The concert will end with Beethoven's Symphony No.9 in D minor.
(China Daily 07/13/2001)