For Immediate Release

Contact: Becky Bailey, bbailey@vocalessence.org, 763.551.9190 (cell 612.309.7149)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (July 9, 2012) —VocalEssence will open its 2012 season with two passionate musical experiences: Romance in E minor, featuring guest conductor Helmuth Rilling, and An Evening in Havana, introducing Cuban chorus Schola Cantorum Coralina.

Romance in E minor, Friday, October 19 (8 pm) at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, will feature repertoire chosen by Helmuth Rilling, including the romantic-era composers Mendelssohn and Bruckner, sung by the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers with chamber orchestra. This is a rare and thrilling opportunity to see one of the world’s leading interpreters of German repertoire conducting glorious music in one of Minnesota’s most spectacular settings. Tickets ($10-$30, service charges apply) are available at vocalessence.org or 612-371-5656.

Philip Brunelle considers Helmuth Rilling one of the great choral conductors of our time. He previously conducted a VocalEssence concert in 2005 and has been named an honorary member of the VocalEssence board of directors. “He is now 79 and in his prime!” says Brunelle. “When it comes to music of Germany and Austria from the 19th Century, the conductor you want is Helmuth Rilling. His interpretation of Mendelssohn and Bruckner is like no other in the choral field,” says Philip Brunelle.

The first half of the concert will feature the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers in motets of Bruckner and Mendelssohn, all in different styles that are very demanding for their vocal and dramatic ranges. In the second half the combined voices of the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers will perform Anton Bruckner’s Mass in E minor. Regarded as one of the most important choral works of the 19th century, this mass is unique in that the orchestra is comprised only of woodwind and brass instruments — no strings, no organ, no percussion. 

An Evening in Havana, Saturday, November 10 (8 pm) and Sunday, November 11 (4 pm) at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, is a once-in-a lifetime chance to see Cuba’s foremost chorus, Schola Cantorum Coralina, coming to the United States for the first time. It will be an unforgettable concert of classical and Latin-infused choral music described as “awe inspiring,” “phenomenally entertaining” and “deeply authentic.” This ensemble creates an undeniable presence with their dynamic range and direct connection to the audience. Tickets ($20-$40, service charges apply) are available at vocalessence.org or 612-371-5656.

Coralina is distinguished by the wide versatility of their work and their ability to perform in a broad range of interpretative styles that comprise their repertoire. They move from the Renaissance to the present day, with a focus on folk and sacred music of Cuba and Latin America as well as famous choral masterpieces. Their concerts are noted for virtuosic elements, with a broad palette of colors and vocal nuances, as well as a sense of humor and Cuban emotion that makes them a favorite with every audience. Already known and beloved world-wide, this concert marks their debut in the United States and is expected to sell out quickly.

“They have such energy, a beautiful precise tone and a wonderful feeling about them,” Philip Brunelle says, adding, “This is a concert that people will be talking about for years and years.”

High-resolution photos of Helmuth Rilling and Schola Cantorum Coralina are available for download at www.vocalessence.org/12-13-press-photos. For additional information, contact Becky Bailey, bbailey@vocalessence.org, 763.551.9190 (cell 612.309.7149).

CAPSULE – VocalEssence presents:

Romance in E minor
Friday, October 19, 2012 at 8 pm
Cathedral of Saint Paul, 239 Selby Avenue, Saint Paul, MN
Concert
Conversation with John Birge and Philip Brunelle at 7 pm

VocalEssence
Chorus & Ensemble Singers with chamber orchestra
Helmuth
Rilling, guest conductor
Tickets ($10-$30, service charges apply): 612-371-5656, vocalessence.org

An Evening in Havana
Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 8 pm
Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 4 pm
House of Hope Presbyterian Church, 797 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN
Concert
Conversation with John Birge and Alina Orraca at 7 pm (Saturday Concert)

Schola
Cantorum Coralina
Alina
Orraca, Conductor
Tickets ($20-$40, service charges apply): 612-371-5656, vocalessence.org

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