FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2, 2011
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Chicago a cappella breaks boundaries at “The Red Carpet of Sound”

Acclaimed vocal ensemble includes piano for the first time at performances Feb. 4-13

Chicago, IL—For the first time in the ensemble’s history, Chicago a cappella will expand its soundscape by presenting pieces for vocal ensemble and piano alongside a cappella works at its upcoming concert, The Red Carpet of Sound.  The nine singers will invite Music Director Patrick Sinozich—one of the city’s finest pianists—to join them on stage for an illuminating comparison of pairs of works by nine composers, one a cappella and one with piano.  Audiences will experience the Romantic part-songs of Franz Schubert, haunting Jewish pieces by Max Janowski, new compositions by Artistic Director Jonathan Miller, and African-American spirituals by Robert L. Morris, along with works by Frederick Delius, Morten Lauridsen, Randall Thompson, Gwyneth Walker, and Leonard Bernstein.  The artists will hold an informal discussion and Q&A after each performance.  Chicago a cappella rolls out the red carpet to welcome audiences on an exciting new musical adventure!

The Red Carpet of Sound: Musical Pairings, a cappella and with Piano will take place Friday, February 4, 2011, at 8:00 pm, at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville, IL; Saturday, February 5, at 8:00 pm, at Anne and Howard Gottlieb Hall at Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria St. in Chicago, IL; Saturday, February 12, at 8:00 pm, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave. in Evanston, IL; and Sunday, February 13, at 4:00 pm, at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park, IL.  For tickets and information, visit www.chicagoacappella.org or call (773) 755-1628.

Evolution of a Boundary-Busting Concert

As Artistic Director Jonathan Miller created concert programs for Chicago a cappella over the past 18 seasons, he naturally restricted himself to works without accompaniment.  Miller recalls, “Sometimes I’d find a piece that met all of my criteria except one: it called for piano.  I realized recently that with one of the city’s best pianists—Music Director Patrick Sinozich—already on our staff, I had the opportunity to shed light on the way composers treat these two different settings.”  For this first-ever collaboration, Miller has chosen pairs of choral works by nine composers, one a cappella and one with piano.  Miller contributed two of his own compositions for the program as well.  Chicago a cappella will sing his accompanied setting of a Gwendolyn Brooks poem, “the preacher: ruminates behind the sermon,” commissioned in 2002 for the dedication of the newly-renamed Brooks Middle School in Oak Park.  Miller has paired that with his new a cappella setting of Psalm 4 (“B’kori aneini”), which will receive its world premiere performances at The Red Carpet of Sound.

Master Composers – New and Familiar

At The Red Carpet of Sound, Chicago a cappella not only expands its boundaries by adding piano accompaniment, but also sings works by great composers it has never before presented.  Randall Thompson’s a cappella masterpiece “Alleluia” is paired with his majestic “Last Words of David.”  Franz Schubert is represented with an a cappella work for men’s chorus (“Zum Rundetanz”) and a gentle setting of Psalm 23 for women’s voices and piano.  Works by Frederick Delius and Leonard Bernstein will also enter Chicago a cappella’s repertoire for the first time. And the ensemble will offer music by some of its favorite composers as well, including two spiritual/gospel arrangements by Robert L. Morris, a pair of choral works by Gwyneth Walker (“White Horses” and “This Train”), and widely contrasting pieces by Max Janowski (the chant “Kaddish for N’ilah” and the lushly harmonic “Jacob’s Dream”).  Finally, the group will sing Morten Lauridsen’s complete cycle Le Chansons de Roses, five settings of French poems by Ranier Maria Rilke.  Chicago a cappella has previously performed the four a cappella movements, but can now present the entire cycle, including the last movement, which calls for piano accompaniment.

Patrick Sinozich, pianist

An acclaimed choral conductor, vocal coach, and chamber musician, Patrick Sinozich is also one of the finest pianist in the Chicago area.  He was heard as soloist at the Ravinia Festival and has performed chamber music with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Cincinnati Symphony. The Chicago Tribune wrote, "Sinozich's fluidly capering pianism shows why he is in great demand." He appears with violist Rachel Barton on the CD Instrument of the Devil and has also produced four CDs for Chicago a cappella and three for the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, which he serves as artistic director. Patrick’s association with Chicago a cappella goes back to the ensemble’s first auditions, which he accompanied, and he formally joined the staff in 2007 as Music Director.

Chicago a cappella

Chicago a cappella is one of the area’s most accomplished and acclaimed vocal ensembles. Spanning a repertoire from Gregorian chant to the Beatles and beyond, the group is currently in its 18th season under founding Artistic Director Jonathan Miller.  With musical preparation by Music Director Patrick Sinozich, the ensemble has been lauded for its “appealing charisma and seamless blend” (Chicago Tribune).  Chicago a cappella has released seven celebrated CDs and has been hailed as “a jewel in the crown of Chicago’s musical life” (American Organist).

Calendar Editors, Please Note:
[Category: Performing Arts / Music / Classical Music]

Chicago a cappella: The Red Carpet of Sound: Musical Pairings, a cappella and with Piano
Fri, 2/4/11, 8:00 pm, Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, IL
Sat., 2/5/11, 8:00 pm, Anne and Howard Gottlieb Hall, 38 S. Peoria St., Chicago, IL
Sat., 2/12/11, 8:00 pm, Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston, IL
Sun., 2/13/11, 4:00 pm, Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park, IL
Prices: $35 / $28 / $22 seniors / $12 students / group rates available
Tickets: (773) 755-1628 or 1-800-SING-WOW or online at www.chicagoacappella.org

Chicago a cappella is partially supported by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; Dr. Scholl Foundation; a CityArts Program 2 grant from the City of Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; the Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest; and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.  98.7 WFMT is a media sponsor of The Red Carpet of Sound.  The Naperville Sun is a media sponsor of Chicago a cappella’s series at Wentz Hall in Naperville.

Hendricks Pianos is a Gold Sponsor of The Red Carpet of Sound. 

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