TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso
II. Andantino semplice
III. Allegro con fouco
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 34 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
SPOTLIGHT BIOGRAPHIES
YUJA WANG, piano
Artistic Partner, Mahler Chamber Orchestra 24/25
Artist-in-Residence, New York Philharmonic 24/25
Pianist Yuja Wang is celebrated for her charismatic artistry, emotional honesty and captivating stage presence. She has performed with the world’s most venerated conductors, musicians and ensembles, and is renowned not only for her virtuosity, but her spontaneous and lively performances, famously telling the New York Times ‘I firmly believe very program should have its own life, and be a representation of how I feel at the moment’.
Her skill and charisma were recently demonstrated in a marathon Rachmaninoff performance at Carnegie Hall alongside conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia Orchestra. This historic event celebrating 150 years since the birth of Rachmaninoff, included performances of all four of his concertos plus the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in one afternoon and saw queues around the block for tickets on the day. The 2022/23 season also saw Yuja perform the world premiere of Magnus Lindberg’s Piano Concerto No.3 with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and further performances of the work throughout North America and Europe across the season.
Yuja was born into a musical family in Beijing. After childhood piano studies in China, she received advanced training in Canada and at the Curtis Institute of Music under Gary Graffman. Her international breakthrough came in 2007, when she replaced Martha Argerich as soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Two years later, she signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon, and has since established her place among the world’s leading artists, with a succession of critically acclaimed performances and recordings. She was named Musical America’s Artist of the Year in 2017, and in 2021 received an Opus Klassik Award for her worldpremiere recording of John Adams’ Must the Devil Have all the Good Tunes? with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel.
As a chamber musician, Yuja has developed long-lasting partnerships with several leading artists. This season, Yuja embarks on a highly-anticipated international duo recital tour with pianist Víkingur Ólafsson with performances in world-class venues across North America and Europe, which will once again showcase her flair, technical ability and exceptional artistry in a wide-ranging programme.
SPOTLIGHT BIOGRAPHIES
ERIC JACOBSEN, conductor
Already well-established as one of classical music’s most exciting and innovative young conductors, Eric Jacobsen combines fresh interpretations of the traditional canon with cutting-edge collaborations across musical genres. Hailed by the New York Times as “an interpretive dynamo,” Eric, as both a conductor and a cellist, has built a reputation for engaging audiences with innovative and collaborative programming.
Eric joined the Virginia Symphony Orchestra as Music Director in 2021, being named the twelfth music director in the orchestra’s 100+ year history. Current and recent projects include recording projects of Dvorak and Coleridge-Taylor with Gil Shaham and Rhapsody in Blue (on banjo!) with Bela Fleck.
Eric is entering his tenth season as Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, as he continues to pioneer the orchestra’s programming and community engagement in new and exciting directions. The 24-25 season looks forward to concerts including An Evening with Jamie Bernstein and the World Premiere of Gabriel Kahane’s clarinet concerto for Anthony McGill.
Eric is also artistic director and co-founder of The Knights, the uniquely adventurous NYC-based chamber orchestra. The ensemble, founded with his brother, violinist Colin Jacobsen, grew out of late-night music reading parties with friends, good food and drink, and conversation. Current endeavors include a multi-year Rhapsody project as well as a residency at Carnegie Hall. Under Jacobsen’s baton, The Knights have developed an extensive recording collection, including albums with longtime collaborators Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, Aaron Diehl, Gabriel Kahane, and Anna Clyne.
Eric’s musical life started from a very young age surrounded by a musical family, where he discovered his love of pulling a bow across a string as a cellist. He and his brother founded the string quartet Brooklyn Rider and also performed regularly with Yo-Yo Ma as a member of the Silkroad Ensemble, touring around the world. This collaborative spirit and sense of music is something that Eric strives to bring to every concert and project.
A frequent guest conductor, Eric has established continuing relationships with the Colorado Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Oregon Bach Festival, and the Dresden Musikfestspiele. Upcoming engagements also include concerts with Classical Tahoe and Grant Park Music Festival, and special performances with Yo-Yo Ma and the Atlanta Symphony and Utah Symphony.
Eric brings joy, storytelling, and a touch of humor to what he describes as “musical conversations” that delight audiences around the world, including those who do not traditionally attend classical music concerts. Jacobsen is married to Grammy-winner singersongwriter Aoife O’Donovan and together they have a daughter.
HOLIDAY 2024/25
HOLIDAY BRASS
STEFAN SANDERS, piano
COLORADO SYMPHONY BRASS & PERCUSSION
Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 7:00pm
Boettcher Concert Hall
HILDEGARD VON BINGEN Karitas Habundat (Antiphon)
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
TRAD. LATIN “Como podem per sas culpas”
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR From The Cantigas de Santa Maria
J.S. BACH
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
TRAD. IRISH
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
TRAD. UKRAINIAN/ENGLISH
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
VI. No. 64, “Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen”
The Wexford Carol
Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye Merry
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR Gentlemen
TRAD. FRENCH
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
Sing We Now of Christmas
TRAD. ENGLISH Greensleeves
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
BENJAMIN BRITTEN
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
TRAD. FRENCH
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
“This Little Babe”
From A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28
Il est né
— INTERMISSION —
HOLIDAY 2024/25
PHIL SNEDECOR A Christmas Fanfare
TRAD. ENGLISH Good King Wenceslas
ARR. STAN KENTON AND RALPH CARMICHAEL
TRAD. ENGLISH
ARR. STAN KENTON AND RALPH CARMICHAEL
The Holly and the Ivy
JOHN HENRY HOPKINS We Three Kings
ARR. STAN KENTON AND RALPH CARMICHAEL
VINCE GUARALDI
ARR. MATT KUNDLER
MARIAH CAREY
ARR. MATT KUNDLER
Highlights from A Charlie Brown Christmas
“All I Want for Christmas is You”
TRAD. ENGLISH Twelve Days of Christmas
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
TRAD. ENGLISH
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
STEFAN SANDERS, conductor
Acclaimed conductor, audience builder, communicator and arts advocate, Stefan Sanders is thrilled to embark on his 8th season as the Music Director for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina and his sixth season as the Music Director for the Central Texas Philharmonic in Austin, TX. Having collaborated with an array of distinguished orchestras and guest artists, Stefan’s recent guest conducting appearances include the Kraków Opera (Poland), Beethoven Academy Orchestra (Poland), Canton Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán (Mérida, MX), Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba (Havana, Cuba), Sarasota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Stockton Symphony, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica de Guayaquil (Ecuador), Filharmonia WarminskoMazurska (Poland), Filharomonia Podcarpacka (Poland), Symphoria (Syracuse, NY), San Antonio Symphony, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, and the Round Top International Festival Institute. From 2017 through 2020 Stefan also served as an assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic.
From 2014-2018 Stefan served as the Associate and Resident Conductor for the Buffalo Philharmonic, where he lead the orchestra in over 200 performances on all of the orchestra’s series. In 2016, Stefan was one of five featured conductors at the League of American Orchestras “Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview.” This prestigious conductor showcase is designed to feature talented young conductors poised for music directorships with American Orchestras and was hosted by Maestro Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony.
Prior to a career as a conductor, Stefan was an internationally renowned trombonist, having performed as a soloist in North America, Asia and Europe. His performance of Eric Ewazen’s Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra, with the Czech Philharmonic can be heard on the Albany Records label. Mr. Sanders was a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic’s trombone section for seven seasons and has performed with several orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and the Seattle Opera’s 2001 production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Stefan was a fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen under the tutelage of maestros, Larry Rachleff, Robert Spano, and Hugh Wolff. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.
JAN 3-5 FRI-SAT 7:00 | SUN 1:00
HOLIDAY 2024/25
TOO HOT TO HANDEL
CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor
CYNTHIA RENEÉ SAFFRON, soprano
KAREN MARIE RICHARDSON, mezzo-soprano
RODRICK DIXON, tenor
TOO HOT TO HANDEL COMMUNITY CHORUS, MARY LOUISE BURKE, director
Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 7:30pm Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 2:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall
PART ONE
Sinfony Comfort Ye Every Valley And The Glory of the Lord Thus Saith the Lord But Who May Abide? And He Shall Purify Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion For Unto Us a Child Is Born There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field And Suddenly, There Was With the Angel Glory to God
— INTERMISSION —
PART TWO
Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Opened He Shall Feed His Flock Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs All We Like Sheep He Trusted in God The Trumpet Shall Sound Why Do the Nations?
Hallelujah
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION.
Saturday’S concert iS SponSored by baL immigration Law
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor
Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is the Music Director of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, newly appointed Music Director of the Greensboro Symphony and is the Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony. He joined the Colorado Symphony in the 2015/2016 Season as Associate Conductor – a position he held for four years. For three years prior, Dragon held the inaugural position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch.
Dragon has a versatile portfolio ranging from live-to-picture performances including Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, a wide variety of collaborations with artists such as the Wu-Tang Clan, Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Bell, to standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire such as Danny Elfman’s Percussion Concerto; all areas of which he has become highly sought after. Christopher has become known for his charisma, high energy and affinity for a good costume, consistently delivering unforgettable performances that has made him an audience favourite.
Recent highlights include his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, his German debut with the WDR Funkhausorchester, performances of Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton with Danny Elfman reprising the role of Jack Skellington and historic performances with Nathaniel Rateliff at Walt Disney Concert Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Upcoming debuts include the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Nasvhille Symphony and the LA Philharmonic.
Christopher is highly sought after as a guest conductor and has worked with the San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Modesto Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In Australia, he has guest conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with John Pyke and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was released on album by ABC Music and won an ARIA the following year.
He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, with both resulting in immediate re-invitations. At the beginning of 2016 Dragon conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Art Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Christopher began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program in Australia under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman. He has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Leonid Grin, Paavo and Neeme Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
CYNTHIA RENEÉ SAFFRON, soprano
Cynthia Renée began singing at age six and studying classical piano at seven. By thirteen, she realized that a career in music was exactly what she wanted.
Mrs. Reneé holds a Bachelor of Arts (Piano Performance), and a Master of Arts (Vocal Performance) from the notable Morgan State University in Maryland. While touring the world and working with a vast array of Conductors, she made a name for herself as a vocalist, and musician. That journey opened doors for performances with some of the World’s top Orchestras. Soulful Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Sao Paolo Brazil Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Czech Symphony Orchestra, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Colombia Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and more. She has been honored to work with respected musicians such as Jazz Trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis, Will Downing, Jason Love, Marin Alsop, Darin Atwater, Nick Colionne, and a host of others.
Cynthia’s passion for the Arts led her to several roles in theater productions at Alliance Theater, Arena Stage, and Dallas Theater Center in Sheldon Epps’ “Blues in the Night.” She has also served as Musical Director for Beehive, Smokey Joes Café, and most recently, Dream Girls at Center Stage in Maryland.
Cynthia Renee has undoubtedly used her experiences in Classical, R&B, Gospel, Country, and Rock genres, to create a unique sound and story of her own. As a singer, songwriter and musician, she continues to bring her style of music to the world of Art. She lives by this declaration, “Success is inner peace and the complete understanding of what makes you happy and fulfilled inside”. It is her passion to inspire and bring people together through the Art of music.
KAREN MARIE RICHARDSON, mezzo-soprano
A native of Chicagoland area, Karen Marie (though known nationally for her vocals) is a songwriter, vocal arranger, actress, educator, and musician. She has also performed in Too Hot to Handel (the jazz/gospel adaptation of Frederic Handel’s Messiah) as the Alto soloist (Auditorium Theatre and Detroit Opera House) since 2009. She is currently starring in the Off Broadway sensation Sleep No More as the Chanteuse. There, she has sung duets with P!nk and John Legend. Karen Marie made her film debut as the Canteen Chanteuse in the movie adaptation of the Michael John Lachiusa musical Hello Again. You may have also seen Karen Marie on television, vocally supporting Grammy award nominated artist Andra Day on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, or Live With Kelly. She was featured on the pilot episode of Vinyl, directed by Martin Scorsese, on HBO.
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
RODRICK DIXON, tenor
Rodrick Dixon possesses a tenor voice of extraordinary range and versatility that has earned him the respect and attention of leading conductors, orchestras, and opera companies.
He has appeared on the stages of Los Angeles Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Todi Music Festival, Portland Opera, Opera Columbus, Virginia, Cincinnati Opera, and Opera Southwest. In Europe, he has appeared on stage with the Royal Opera House Covent Garden (Das Rheingold), Netherlands Radio Orchestra (The Death of Klinghoffer) and the Enescu Festival (Der Zwerg). In Australia, he appeared with Sydney Arts Festival (Oedipus Rex).
In concert, he has appeared as a soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Aspen Festival, Ravinia Festival, American Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Vail Music Festival, and The Longfellow Chorus.
He has appeared on television in a number of PBS specials. He was part of the original cast of Ragtime on Broadway, and in Show Boat at the Auditorium Theatre. He has also appeared on recordings (Sony/BMG), PBS Great Performances’ Cook, Dixon & Young Volume One, Follow That Star Christmas CD, Liam Lawton’s Sacred Land, Rodrick Dixon Live in Concert, and a Christmas album with the Cincinnati Pops.
MARY LOUISE BURKE, director, Too Hot to Handel Community Chorus
Mary Louise Burke is in her 31st season with the Colorado Symphony Chorus. In addition to assisting Chorus Director Duain Wolfe for many years, she has also prepared the chorus for various Colorado Symphony pops concerts and special projects, including Too Hot to Handel. She is the Creative Director of the Symphony’s A Colorado Christmas concerts. In the summer of 2022, she conducted the Symphony chorus on their concert tour of Austria. She has worked as the Associate Director of the Colorado Children’s Chorale, participating in hundreds of concerts and dozens of the Chorale’s regional, national and international tours. She was also Vocal Director of the Children’s Chorale, where she provided specialized vocal coaching and opera preparation. With an expertise in vocal technique, Burke frequently conducts seminars in vocal and choral techniques for area church and community choirs. She is the Vocal Advisor at Montview Presbyterian Church and has taught classes in Find Your Authentic Voice at the University of Denver. She has a Doctorate in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado.
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
TOO HOT TO HANDEL COMMUNITY CHORUS
Mary Louise Burke, Director
Jared Joseph, Assistant Director
Anastasiia Pavlenko, Pianist
David Rosen and Barbara Porter, Chorus Managers
SOPRANO
Mary Alderton
Ann-Marie AndrewsJackson
Tanya Apel
Jeannette Armbrustmacher
Carol Baker
Judy Barckholtz
Wendy Bawmann
Reva Benson
Helen Berkman
Brianna Bettis
Alice Boyle
Laurie Burgher
Shi-Chin Chiang
Kay Christie
Kerry Cote
Sally David
Elizabeth Dries
Gayle Duggan
Wendy Ferrelli
Elise Fitschen
Carolyn Fleming
Rebecca Gale
Suzanne Gendreau
Brenda Gleason
Norma Hafenstein
Sally Hirsch
Kari Hoffman
Amy Jackson
Caitlin Jones-Bamman
Alaxander Josephs
Mary Margaret Ladue
Carrie Lamitie
Marybeth Lehto
Lori Luzzi
Charlotte McGinnis
Kate McRae
Kathryn Miller
Kelly O’Leary
Jeannette O’Nan
Colleen Parsley
Barbara Porter
Kathryn Rue
Susanna Russo
Elizabeth Shepic
Roberta Sladovnik
Kim Soderholm
Mary Strizek
Deborah Viles
Karen Wuertz
Joan Zisler
ALTO
Kristel Acre
Lora Adams
Julie Banda
Barbara Jerome Behl
Lisa Ann Boyum
Gail Brannan
Vira Brock
Michelle Brown
Beth Brown
Mary Anne Buczyna
Susan Burnett
Adele Carter
Lindy Casados
LaTonya CooperMcPherson
Brooke Cowan
Martha Cox
Valerie Dutcher
Julie Engel
Amy Evancheck
Olivia Fergus
Jennifer Ford Keel
Alexia Girin
Dawn Givens
Charlie Hebeler
Deborah Herold
Erica Hoaglund
Regina Hunt
Paula LaPrise
Karen Littlefield
Joanna Maltzahn
Brandi McKenzie
Joan Meister
Julie Meyers
Lynne Monson
Kerrie Monti
Andrea Morgan
Sarah Nelson
Kristen Nordenholz
Connie Oehring
Gretchen Ordelheide
Patti Quarles
Rhonda Renaud
Liz Rodriguez
Kathi Rudolph
Wendy Schnell
Rebecca Schuyler
Heidi Shriver
B. Alexandria Sietz
Karin Soderholm
Elaine Sohrweid
Linda TeKrony
Gwen Thomas
Roxanne Thompson
Kim Trubetskoy
Susan Turman
Mariza Vazquez
Benita Wandel
Tyler Watlington
Amy Weaver
Christina Werner
Kate Williams
Joan Winstein
Lynne Yancey
Beth York
TENOR
John Ashworth
Russell Bowe
Jody Carmichael
Jodell Chiles
John Colvin
Barbara Downing
Roger Fuehrer
David Keller
Mikkel Kelly
Kenneth Kolm
Renee Law
Marvin Lynn
Ryan McPeek
Bethany Mesko
Tom Milligan
Kirk Neuroth
Ken Peach
Jake Petersen
David Rosen
PJ Stohlman
Hannis Thompson
Xander Trullinger
BASS
Vinny Alvino
Chris Beeson
Roger Burnett
Grant Carlton
Jim Esten
Bob Friedlander
Dave Gleason
Kenneth Guimond
Joel Houwer
Leonard Hunt
Jared Joseph
Keith Kempton
Jay Leaver
Andy Martin
Ken Moncreiff
John Mullins
Peter Ordelheide
John Phillips
Tom Potter
Ken Quarles
Joshua Richards
Ben Romig
Russ Skillings
Christopher Stille
Dan Stuart
Gerry Tegeder
Brian Underhill
Tom Virtue
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
TOO HOT TO HANDEL COMMUNITY CHORUS
The Too Hot to Handel Community Chorus has been performing Too Hot to Handel with the Colorado Symphony since 1998 and is comprised of singers from church and community choirs all over the metro area and beyond. This year, we are pleased to welcome singers from the following choirs:
Applewood Valley United Methodist
Arvada Chorale
Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox
Berkeley Community Chorus (Berkeley CA)
Brighton Music Choir
Broomfield Methodist
Cantabile (Boulder)
Cherry Creek Chorale
Cherry Creek Presbyterian
Christ Episcopal
Coal Creek Community Chorus
Colorado Chorale
Colorado Community Church
Colorado Repertory Singers
Columbine Chorale
Columbine United
Denver Choir League
Denver Women’s Chorus
Evergreen Lutheran
Faith Lutheran
5280 Senior Chorale
First Avenue Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church of Georgetown
First Unitarian Society of Denver
First Universalist
Gaudete
Georgetown Community Choir
Golden First United Methodist
Grace Community Church
Grace Episcopal (Georgetown)
Green Mountain United Methodist
High Country Chorus
High Spirit Harmonies
Holy Family Catholic
Holy Shepherd Lutheran
Impromptu
Inner Voices
Jefferson County Unitarian Church
Last Note Singers
Light of the World Catholic
Littleton United Methodist
Louisville United Methodist
Metropolitan Choral Festival
Mile Hi Church
Montview Blvd Presbyterian
Never on Sunday
New Hope Baptist
Our Savior’s Reformed
Park Hill United Methodist
The Purpose Center
Red Rock Community Church
Resonance Women’s Chorus (Boulder)
Risen Christ Catholic
Rocky Mountain Christian (Frederick)
Sage Singers
Sine Nomine
S.O.A.R.
South Fellowship
South Suburban Christian Church
Sovereign Grace Church of Aurora
St Andrew United Methodist
St Barnabas Episcopal
St Jude Catholic
St Luke’s Episcopal
St Mary of the Rockies (Bailey)
Sts Peter and Paul Catholic
St Stephen’s Lutheran
St Thomas More Catholic
St Timothy’s Episcopal
The Crossing
Trinity United Methodist
Voices Rock
Washington Park United Methodist
Wellshire Presbyterian
Wind Crest Cantabile
HOLIDAY PROGRAM NOTE
TOO HOT TO HANDEL
George Frideric Handel was on a roll in the spring of 1742, when he premiered his great oratorio: Messiah. It was reported in the Dublin Journal by an anonymous critic that, “On Tuesday last Mr. Handel’s Sacred Grand Oratorio, the Messiah, was performed at the New Musical Hall in Fishamble Street. The Sublime, the Grand, and the Tender, adapted to the most elevated, majestik and moving Words, conspired to transport and charm the ravished Heart and Ear.” Two hundred and sixty-one years later, Handel’s Messiah is one of the most performed and popular choral works appreciated by audiences all over the world. Instantly recognizable is the famous “Hallelujah Chorus,” during which it is customary to stand. It is exactly that sense of excitement that prompted conductor Marin Alsop to suggest giving Handel’s Messiah a new twist. Too Hot to Handel grew from an idea to fruition in the hands of Alsop’s colleagues: Gary Anderson and Bob Christianson, who recreated this gospel and jazz version adaptation of Messiah in 1992. The sensational new appeal of Too Hot to Handel — which premiered in 1993 with Marin Alsop and the Concordia Orchestra — has been met with the same enthusiasm as when the ink was fresh in 1742. Alsop, in collaboration with Christianson and Anderson, envisioned the Messiah in a way that captures a fresh “feel” and thrill, while retaining Handel’s original musical intent. “It’s a great story, but I also think that it requires some kind of audience participation. It becomes an active listening experience when you’re allowed to stand up and clap your hands...” says Alsop. The creative team of Alsop-Christianson-Anderson decided their adaptation would encompass jazz, gospel, rock, and funk to “break the classical sound barrier.” The result is a swinging performance of the traditional oratorio.
