Dr. Stephen Gothold, Music Director of the Chorale Bel Canto, described with clarity and humor the many groups and traditions that create an authentic "American Music," while singers from the Chorale performed examples of several of the styles.
The Chorale program was the culminating event of the month-long Whittier Reads program, focused on the book Until Tuesday, the story of a veteran with PTSD and the dog who helped him heal. The theme of America also provided a preview of the final Chorale Bel Canto concert of the season, America Sings!, which will be performed at Garrison Theatre in Claremont on June 7th and at the Downey Civic Theatre on June 8th.
The Chorale group sang music from the Colonial period through to the 20th century, which is the focus of the coming concert, which will feature the music of Aaron Copland, Randall Thompson, and the Gershwin brothers in a song concert of Porgy and Bess. As Dr. Gothold concluded with an earlier Chorale recording of choruses from the Gershwin opera, the listeners in the Library delightedly tapped and swayed!
This was the second Chorale Library performance this season--on March 26th at the Whittwood Branch the group offered a preview of the Whittier College Bach Festival. This partnership is new this year, and both the Chorale and the Library look forward to continued collaboration--more Music in the Library!
Enjoy these pictures of the April 30th event
and
Join us for America Sings
on June 7 in Claremont or June 8 in Downey
No comments:
Post a Comment