Minneapolis (October 5, 2006) –VocalEssence and Minnesota Public Radio are proud to co-present the Westminster Cathedral Choir of London in concert on Thursday, October 19, 2006 (8:00 pm) at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, overlooking downtown St. Paul. A Concert Conversation with Classical Minnesota Public Radio’s John Birge will take place before the concert at 7 pm. For tickets, call 651-290-1221 or visit www.vocalessence.org.

A relatively “new” building by English church standards, the cornerstone of Westminster Cathedral was laid in 1895, following the re-establishment of the Roman Catholic Church in England in 1850. Its renowned men and boys choir is now the only professional Catholic choir in the world that sings daily Mass and Vespers. Westminster Cathedral Choir is the also only English church choir to win Gramophone Awards for “Best Choral Recording” and “Record of the Year.” 20th-century composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst and Herbert Howells have written expressly for the choir.

Director Martin Baker will draw on this long tradition for their performance in Saint Paul, which features music of Byrd, Tavener, Mozart and Vaughan Williams. The Choir will also sing the world premiere of a work by Minnesota composer David Evan Thomas, “Glorious eye,” an anthem for unaccompanied chorus based on a poem by the 19th-century pastoral English poet John Clare. See complete concert program below.

The Westminster Cathedral Choir performance will be broadcast live on Classical Minnesota Public Radio stations throughout the region, including KSJN 99.5 FM in the Twin Cities

Download high-resolution press photos from www.vocalessence.org > news & media > image & file downloads.

For additional press information, contact Katryn Conlin, VocalEssence Communications Director at kconlin@vocalessence.org or 612-547-1459 or Jennifer Haugh, Minnesota Public Radio, 651-290-1369.

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Founded in 1969, VocalEssence explores music for voices and instruments under the enthusiastic direction of conductor Philip Brunelle.

Westminster Cathedral Choir of London
Thursday, October 19, 2006 8 pm
Cathedral of Saint Paul
239 Selby, Saint Paul, MN
Tickets: 651-290-1221 or visit www.vocalessence.org.

Program

Omnes gentes plaudite manibus – Christopher Tye (c. 1505-1573)
Gloria, Mass for five voices – William Byrd (1543-1623)
Iubilate Deo – Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1555-1612)

ORGAN – Toccata VII – Michaelangelo Rossi (1602-1656)

Valiant-for-truth – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
The Lamb – John Tavener (b. 1944)
Glorious eye – David Evan Thomas (b. 1958) – WORLD PREMIERE
A new song – James MacMillan (b. 1959)

INTERVAL

Hymn to St Cecilia – Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Laudate Dominum – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

ORGAN – Coronation March ‘Orb and Sceptre’ – William Walton (1902-1983)

Give unto the Lord – Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
“Five Mystical Songs” – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
The Call
Antiphon

EXCLUSIVE U.S. MANAGEMENT: Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio

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VocalEssence
1900 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403 USA
www.vocalessence.org