Helena Choral Week is fast approaching! Musikanten Montana invites local singers and potential audience members to join us for daily classes and free lunchtime mini-recitals Monday through Friday June 19 – 23 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral.
The culmination of Choral Week’s evening rehearsals is the final concert by the festival chorus of 26 singers, and will feature “Ode à la Musique” by Swiss composer Frank Martin, Benjamin Britten’s dramatic “Rejoice in the Lamb,” and “Alexandria Suite,” a special tribute to Musikanten’s favorite Washington DC composer, Russell Woollen. Musikanten’s artistic director Kerry Krebill commissioned this work for chorus, string and wind quintets, piano and percussion in 1987, and recently presented it in Alexandria, Virginia, in a concert of works honoring Mr. Woollen’s centenary.
HCW 2023 Guest Artists soprano Robin Pennington, contralto Anne Kania, tenor Thomas A. Gregg and baritone Bobb Robinson will be featured in the Britten composition, along with organist Wendy Yuen. Pianist June Lee will accompany “Ode à la Musique,” a 20th- century work setting a 14th century iambic pentameter text by Guillaume Machaut, celebrating the power and glory of music
Tickets are available at Birds & Beasleys and Piccolo’s Music, and at the door: $20 general admission/$10 students/children FREE. As always, Musikanten Angel Donors ($100+) will have pews reserved for them.
Following the Saturday evening concert, the festival choir will participate Sunday morning in the 10:15 liturgy at St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral, singing parts of William Byrd’s Mass for 4 Voices, and motets by Byrd and Duruflé.
