http://www.dessoff.org/new/ en Copyright 2010 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:23:00 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thomas Tallis’ tour de force of Renaissance choral polyphony, the amazingly intricate 40-part a cappella motet “Spem in Alium”, will be performed by members of The Dessoff Choirs and friends under the baton of Michel Galante as part of Make Music New York’s free concerts on Monday June 21, 5:45pm at the R.C. Church of St. Andrew in lower Manhattan, 20 Cardinal Hayes Place, and repeated next door at 6:15pm under the arches of the Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street (by Chambers Street). Come hear this rarely performed masterpiece of devotional choral music by one of Britain’s greatest composers, sung here in the varied acoustical settings of church and outdoor colonnade. Each rendition will last approximately 10 minutes. See the listing for MMNY, and a mention of Dessoff, in The New York Times (6/18). For info on all participating musicians, go to Make Music New York's website.]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/06/make_music_new_york_monday_jun.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/06/make_music_new_york_monday_jun.html Next concert Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:23:00 -0500 The Dessoff Choirs is pleased to announce its new Music Director, Christopher Shepard. Mr. Shepard joins us as we end our 85th season, and he follows an illustrious list of conductors who have led Dessoff in uncovering rare gems of the choral repertoire. Dessoff President Christopher Platt says, "We are thrilled to add a new name to the storied list of music directors of The Dessoff Choirs. Chris Shepard brings us energy and enthusiasm, impeccable musicianship, and an international perspective. Dessoff will continue to grow both musically and organizationally under his leadership and vision." Mr. Shepard says, "It’s an honor to have been chosen to walk in the footsteps of Dessoff's past conductors, all of whom have contributed so much to American musical life. It’s especially exciting to assume the leadership of a choir whose legacy is so long and rich. I look forward to continuing the Dessoff tradition of exploring unusual music, seeking a contemporary meaning for Renaissance and Baroque music, and bringing new works to life with a choir that has long been one of New York's leading proponents of unheard choral works. Also, as an American who lived abroad for many years, I look forward to forging new partnerships with international musicians and organizations." Watch this space for details on our first season together! And read on for more about Mr. Shepard.]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/05/new_music_director_chris_shepa_1.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/05/new_music_director_chris_shepa_1.html People Tue, 18 May 2010 08:32:22 -0500 The ROOTS of BACH & BEYOND Patrick Dupré Quigley, guest conductor The Dessoff Choirs Led by one of the hottest young conductors on the Miami choral scene, this program looks back to the rich musical tradition from which Johann Sebastian Bach emerged, offering rarely performed works by Mendelssohn, Schütz, Kuhnau, Frescobaldi, and others, as well as famous motets — Singet dem Herrn and Jesu, Meine Freude — by the master himself. St. George’s Church E.16th St.at Rutherford Place, east of Third Ave Manhattan ]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/03/saturday_may_8_2010_730pm.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/03/saturday_may_8_2010_730pm.html Next concert Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:08:20 -0500 http://www.wqxr.org), on Sunday, March 14. The title track of our latest recording, Glories on Glories, composed by Charles Ives, was featured as the final piece in the program, led by music director James Bagwell.]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/03/featured_on_wqxr_1.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/03/featured_on_wqxr_1.html In the Media Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:45:16 -0500 BEETHOVEN’S NINTH Iván Fischer, conductor Lisa Milne, soprano Jorma Silvasti, tenor Kristinn Sigmundsson, bass The Dessoff Symphonic Choir Budapest Festival Orchestra Symphony No. 6 in F major (“Pastoral”) Symphony No. 9 in D minor The finale of Lincoln Center’s “Beethoven Then and Now: The Complete Symphonies” series, a five-day Beethoven extravaganza, featuring Iván Fischer leading the Orchestra of Enlightment on period instruments and the masterful Budapest Festival Orchestra translating these works for today. This fascinating project offers never-before-heard side-by-side accounts of how these beloved symphonies may have sounded in the composer’s time as well as presenting them to the contemporary audience. Avery Fisher Hall Lincoln Center Manhattan Tickets available at Lincoln Center box office. ]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/03/sunday_march_28_2010_300_pm.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/03/sunday_march_28_2010_300_pm.html Next concert Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:15:05 -0500 http://www.wqxr.org). Dessoff's 1999 recording of Robert Convery's To The One of Fictive Music, led by Kent Tritle, was played.]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/02/featured_on_wqxr.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2010/02/featured_on_wqxr.html In the Media Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:03:17 -0500 An insider's look, from our own Jeff Lunden, at the November performances of The Dessoff Chamber Choir with Ray Davies (of The Kinks) was featured on the December 22 edition of "All Things Considered" on NPR. For the full archived story, click here. As part of the multimedia breakout for the story, our full set of 15 songs with Ray is available as streaming audio or podcast at All Songs Considered. ]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/12/dessoff_and_ray_davies_on_npr.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/12/dessoff_and_ray_davies_on_npr.html In the Media Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:17:41 -0500

Recorded live in performance in March 2009, Dessoff's latest CD Glories on Glories features stirring American choral works by William Billings, Charles Ives, Horatio Parker, and Randall Thompson, featuring shape-note hymns, songs from the battlefield, and more. The recording is available for purchase via cdbaby.com, iTunes, and digstation.com, and will also be available for purchase at Dessoff concerts and events. For the full album notes by music director James Bagwell, please click here.]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/12/dessoffs_latest_cd_glories_on_1.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/12/dessoffs_latest_cd_glories_on_1.html Discography Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:01:42 -0500 Thursday, November 19 & Friday, November 20, 2009 8:00 pm DAVIES: THE KINKS CHORAL COLLECTION David Temple, conductor Ray Davies and his band The Dessoff Chamber Choir The songwriting prowess of Ray Davies was showcased as he and his band perform choral-backed reworkings of classic Kinks hits. Included were exciting renditions of You Really Got Me, Celluloid Heroes, Waterloo Sunset, All Day and All of the Night, and more. We also joined Ray on The Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday, November 18! The Town Hall 123 West 43rd Street Manhattan ]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/10/november_1920_2009_dessoff_joi_1.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/10/november_1920_2009_dessoff_joi_1.html In the Media Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:54:05 -0500 …superbly disciplined and highly responsive… - The Baltimore Sun, June 29, 2009 …stunning in their impact… - The New York Observer, July 8, 2009 Welcome to The Dessoff Choirs’ 2009-2010 season, celebrating 85 years of passionate music-making in New York City. Fresh off two thrilling collaborations with the New York Philharmonic this past June, our 85th year marks a few significant milestones. In August, Dessoff welcomed Jessica Silver, a seasoned arts management professional, as our first Executive Director. This fall we look forward to the release of our second CD, Glories on Glories, a live recording of American song ranging from Billings to Ives. And in spring, we are sad to note, James Bagwell will be leaving his post as Music Director to follow in the footsteps of his mentor Robert Shaw as he assumes leadership of Collegiate Chorale. Save the date for our spring benefit – February 9, 2010 – when we will pay tribute to James’s tenure as music director. Our 85th season kicks off in dramatic fashion, as we present Ernest Bloch’s stirring Sacred Service on November 12th in the ideal setting of Congregation Rodeph Sholom. One week later, on November 19th and 20th, The Dessoff Chamber Choir backs Ray Davies and his band in a reprise of classic Kinks hits at The Town Hall. On March 6th, we return to Merkin Concert Hall to premiere exciting new works by Kyle Gann and Harold Farberman, along with Lukas Foss’s tender Psalms. March 28th, we make a Lincoln Center’s Great Performers series appearance with the Budapest Festival Orchestra under the direction of Iván Fischer in Beethoven’s inimitable Symphony No. 9. And the season draws to a close on May 8th, with a fascinating look at Bach’s compositional roots. We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a dynamic year! Highlights from last season include acclaimed, sold-out performances of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at Avery Fisher Hall with the New York Philharmonic in Lorin Maazel’s last appearances as music director. Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, the capstone of the Philharmonic’s live recording of the Complete Mahler Symphonies, features The Dessoff Symphonic Choir and is now available for download on iTunes. Other recent highlights include a performance of Mahler’s Symhony No. 3 at Carnegie Hall benefiting victims of pediatric AIDS, an exploration of the musical legacy of Biblical hero David, and the rich American program recorded in March and captured on our soon-to-be released CD. For more information on individual concerts, and to purchase tickets, click ]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/09/20092010_season_1.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/09/20092010_season_1.html Concert Schedule & Tickets Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:02:20 -0500 Tuesday, August 25, 2009 marked the release date for our June 25, 2009 performance of Mahler's 8th Symphony ("Symphony of a Thousand"). The Dessoff Symphonic Choir, along with New York Choral Artists, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and a host of soloists joined the New York Philharmonic for Lorin Maazel's valedictory program as music director of the Phil. A truly memorable performance, now available for all to hear! Click here to preview/purchase directly from iTunes, or here to preview/purchase from the NY Phil website. Also available on eMusic, Rhapsody, and available at audiophile sampling rates (96khz/24bit) via HDTracks.]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/08/dessoff_with_the_ny_phil_hits_1.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/08/dessoff_with_the_ny_phil_hits_1.html In the Media Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:08:46 -0500 auditions@dessoff.org. Our Membership Chair will respond to schedule a private 10-minute audition that consists of vocalizing to demonstrate range and vocal production, and sight-singing. NO prepared piece is required.]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/08/sing_with_dessoff_in_our_85th.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/08/sing_with_dessoff_in_our_85th.html Auditions Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:29:03 -0500 01 Psalm 90 02 Weeping Mary 03 When David Heard 04 Jordan 05 See My Friends 06 Symphony No. 8: Part I section VI. Gloria Patri]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/03/hillis_award_submission.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/03/hillis_award_submission.html Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:43:29 -0500 Sunday, March 28, 2010 3:00 pm Avery Fisher Hall Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor Iván Fischer, conductor Lisa Milne, soprano Jorma Silvasti, tenor Kristinn Sigmundsson, bass The Dessoff Symphonic Choir Budapest Festival Orchestra Saturday, March 6, 2010 8:00 pm Merkin Concert Hall Lukas Foss: Psalms Harold Farberman: Talk (World Premiere) Kyle Gann: Transcendental Sonnets (NY Premiere) James Bagwell, conductor Megan Taylor, soprano Jeffrey Hill, tenor Steven Ryan, piano Renee Anne Louprette, piano The Dessoff Choirs ]]> http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/03/2010.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/03/2010.html Repertoire Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:09:01 -0500 http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/03/2009.html http://www.dessoff.org/new/2009/03/2009.html Repertoire Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:44:21 -0500