Our 36th Season of Singing
Mozart Festival Events, Aug 22 – 25
Candlelight Carols, Dec 6, 7 and 8, 2019
Kaleidoscope, April 18 & 19, 2020, premiering a commissioned work by Jake Runestad
2019- 2020 Season summary by founder & music director Jeff Hunt
Mozart Festival…..August 22nd though August 25th.
The choral programs presented on Friday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th will feature two works that were written when Mozart was just 13 years of age. Missa in C K 66 and Benedictus sit Deus K117. In addition we will perform for you two brief fragments of Mozart’s music he left incomplete. They of course will leave us all hanging but will fun and give us all insight into how Mozart created his music. If you’re interested in the creative process in concert preparation, you won’t want to miss the free open rehearsal for these programs on Thursday, August 22nd at 7:00 p.m. The Saturday morning chamber music concert is an exciting new addition to the festival. Our fabulous concert master, Thomas Yang will lead a small ensemble of musicians from the festival orchestra in music by Mozart and his friends Michael Haydn and J.C Bach. This will be held in the beautiful Garden Terrace of the historic Hotel Baker.
Candlelight Carols 2019…December 6th through December 8th.
Each set of music will set in motion familiar themes of the season. Beginning with the exploration of mystery, the music will thread its way, traversing in many motifs including peace, hope and Joy. I’m excited about the variety of music on the program. The selections are also made in mind to pair nicely with the beautiful venues at Baker Memorial Church and Fourth Presbyterian Church.
Selections for this program include a program from the following:
A Gallery Carol and Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day, John Gardiner; There is No Rose, Simon Preston; Love Came Down at Christmas, Richard Lloyd; Rejoice and Be Merry, Christopher Robinson,; Benedicamus Domino, Peter Warlock; Christmas Night, John Rutter; No Small Wonder, Paul Edwards; Adam lay Ybounden, Philip Ledger, O Radiant Dawn, James MacMillan, There Was a Pig Went Out to Dig, Percy Graiger; Children Song of the Nativity, Traditional and Now May We Singen, Cecilia McDowell. I Wonder as I Wander, Robert Boyd; Away in a Manger, Ola Gjeilo; Es Ist Ein Rose Ent Sprungen, Mårten Jansson, The Silver Stars, Jan Van der Roost, O Mary Theotokos, John Tavener.
Kaleidoscope April 18th, 19th, 2020
This very special concert has as its theme, a musical journey through some of life’s significant moments, welcomes cellist Sophie Webber as guest artist. The centerpiece of the program will be the world premiere of new work composed for the St. Charles Singers by celebrated composer, Jake Runestad. Jake is creating a setting of the poem Cello by Dorianne Laux. Other works on the program include works by Bach/Webber, Montavano, Britten, Gjeilo, Rutter, Sixten, Pӓrt, Shearing and Chilcott. The concert will be a Kaleidoscope of sounds reflecting events and emotions we all at one time or another, share together.
* Baker Church is located at 307 Cedar Ave., St Charles, IL 60174
Individual Tickets: $40 – adults; $35 – seniors; $10 – students (ID may be requested)
Subscribe by August 20, 2019 to receive 20% off ticket purchase for Candlelight Carols and Victorian Flourish