Musique de France

Capsule: VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers; Philip Brunelle, conductor
The St. Olaf Choir; Dan Dressen, tenor; Full orchestra
Friday, October 17, 2008, 8 pm
Concert Conversation at 7 pm
Cathedral of Saint Paul
239 Selby Avenue, St. Paul

Tickets: $20, $30, $40 (Service charges may apply. Student and partial view tickets are half price. Group discounts are available.) To order, call 612-371-5656 (800-292-4141) or purchase online at vocalessence.org.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (July 23, 2008) – The magnificent acoustic of Cathedral of Saint Paul is the perfect setting for an evening of sacred French music. Philip Brunelle, artistic director of VocalEssence, and Anton Armstrong, conductor of The St. Olaf Choir, have selected some of the most inspiring French choral and orchestral music for Musique de France.

The performance takes place on Friday evening, October 17, 2008 at pm. For tickets and information, call 612-371-5656 (800-292-4141) or visit www.vocalessence.org/france.

The 200 voices of VocalEssence and The St. Olaf Choir will join forces to perform Berlioz’s monumental Te Deum, calling for the titanic forces of a tenor soloist, two three-part choruses, treble chorus, organ and a full orchestra that includes a cadre of twelve harps. Dan Dressen, head of the music department at St. Olaf College, will be the featured soloist. Considered one of his “architectural” works, Berlioz composed his Te Deum to be performed in the vast, spacious acoustic of a Cathedral, like that of the Cathedral of Saint Paul.

The performance will also feature music by 19th and 20th century French composers who drew upon their deep national identity and the legacy of the Catholic tradition in their compositions. The VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers open the concert with music of Francis Poulenc, Pierre Villette, Marcel Dupré and Olivier Messiaen. The St. Olaf Choir, directed by Anton Armstrong, will sing music of Poulenc and several selections by Maurice Duruflé.

For press information and photographs related to Musique de France, contact Jennifer Bauer (612-547-1459, jbauer@vocalessence.org).

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Program:

VocalEssence Ensemble Singers:
O Sacrum Convivium – Olivier Messiaen

St. Olaf Choir:
Notre Pere – Maurice Duruflé
Vinea Mea Electa – Francis Poulenc
Ubi Caritas – Maurice Duruflé
Sanctus (From "Requiem") – Maurice Duruflé

VocalEssence Ensemble Singers:
Sustinuit Anima Mea (From "De Profundis") – Marcel Dupré

VocalEssence Chorus And Ensemble Singers:
Jesu, Dulcis Memoria – Pierre Villette
Exultate Deo – Francis Poulenc

All Choirs:
Psalm LXXXIV – Charles-Marie Widor

Intermission

All Choirs with orchestra:
Te Deum – Hector Berlioz