FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jennifer Weismann
612-716-0556
jennifer@owl-marketing.com

VOCALESSENCE AND FAMED ROCK DRUMMER STEWART COPELAND OF THE POLICE PRESENT PARADISE LOST-INSPIRED ORATORIO “SATAN’S FALL”

Regional premiere at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis—May 8

MINNEAPOLIS—March 31, 2021—VocalEssence will present the regional premiere of Satan’s Fall, the choral work composed by famed British rock drummer Stewart Copeland and inspired by John Milton’s epic Paradise Lost, as the final performance of its 2021-2022 season.  The oratorio features the heavenly voices of the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers, with tenor Nathan Granner and soprano Jamie Chamberlin as guest soloists, and stage direction by Theater Latte Da’s Peter Rothstein.

Stewart Copeland, co-founder of the Police and, more lately, acclaimed film score, opera, and ballet composer, focuses his stirring piece on the battle between God and Milton’s charismatic, damned Satan. The composer will be in attendance, and give a talk before the concert.

Images are available here.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring this piece—with the driving, pulsating rhythms you might expect from a world-class drummer like Stewart Copeland—to the stage, and even better, to a live audience,” says Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence artistic director and founder. “Copeland is an iconic performer, particularly for anyone who grew up on the music of The Police in the 80s, and we’re honored to collaborate with him as a respected composer of ballets, operas, film scores and now this gorgeous oratorio.”

“Throughout this season, where we’ve been celebrating ‘music that moves us’, it is an honor to tell stories of creation through the voices of composers across time and cultures.” says G. Phillip Shoultz, III, VocalEssence associate artistic director. “Satan’s Fall combines of the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers, fabulous guest soloists, Peter Rothstein, and the legendary Stewart Copeland for a dream conclusion to an unprecedented season. This will be a blockbuster finale for our exciting return to live, in-person performances.”

Satan’s Fall will be performed on May 8, 2022 at 4 pm, at Central Lutheran Church, 333 South 12th Street, Minneapolis. Single tickets are available, as are tickets through a 2021-22 Concert Series Subscription. Satan’s Fall will be available for free viewing online at the VocalEssence Digital concert homepage beginning May 20, 2022. For details about the season and to purchase tickets, call 612-371-5656 or visit www.vocalessence.org.

VocalEssence adheres to all health and safety recommendations put forth by the Minnesota Department of Health, as well as any health and safety protocols in place at our concert venues. To view our current safety protocols, visit vocalessence.org/covid-19-updates.

VocalEssence, the choral ensemble Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” reaches thousands of students, singers, and composers each year through its learning and engagement programs, contests, and support for innovative art. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and has debuted more than 300 commissions and world premieres. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.

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