Program - Too Hot To Handel

HOLIDAY

2018/19

TOO HOT TO HANDEL

2018/19 SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:

Co-arranged by Bob Christianson & Gary Anderson.

Original concept by Marin Alsop.

COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor CYNTHIA RENEÉ SAFFRON, soprano KAREN MARIE RICHARDSON, mezzo soprano RODRICK DIXON, tenor TOO HOT TO HANDEL COMMUNITY CHORUS, TRAVIS BRANAM, director Friday, December 21, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 22, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.

Boettcher Concert Hall PART 1

PART 2

Sinfonia Comfort ye, my people Ev’ry valley shall be exalted 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

Rejoice greatly Then shall the eyes of the blind be open’d He shall feed his flock Surely, he hath borne our griefs All we like sheep, have gone astray He trusted in God The trumpet shall sound Why do the nations so furiously rage?

Hallelujah

— INTERMISSION — This Weekend's Performances are Gratefully Dedicated to Arrow Electronics Friday's Performance is Gratefully Dedicated to Arrow Electronics Saturday's Performance is Gratefully Dedicated to Bob and Lindsay Deibel

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

SOUNDINGS

2018/19

PROGRAM 1

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is in his fourth season as the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony. For three years he previously held the position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch. Christopher works regularly in Australia and has guest conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with Josh Pyke and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was released on album by ABC Music and won an ARIA the following year. Christopher’s international guest conducting includes the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. 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 Mr. Dragon conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Arts Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra. Christopher Dragon 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 Järvi at the Järvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival, and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.

S TAY

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COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 2

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES CYNTHIA RENÉE SAFFRON, soprano Cynthia Reneé is a native of Montgomery, Alabama. She has used her vocal talents to entertain audiences around the world, including Japan, Paris, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.

Her Orchestral performances include the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Czech Symphony Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Soulful Symphony, and the United States Air Force Band. Ms. Reneé’s deep passion for the Arts has led to roles in theater which include Blues in the Night and Night of January Sixteenth. She has also served as musical director for Dreamgirls and Beehive at Toby’s Theater in Baltimore, Maryland and Little Shop of Horrors. Her soulful, wide ranged vocals can be heard in a variety of recordings such as renowned Trumpet player Wynton Marsalis’ ‘All Rise’, Morgan State University Choir’s ‘Live in Prague’, GIA Publishing ‘Use Me’ and ‘May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me’, and Soulful Symphony’s ‘Song in a Strange Land’. Cynthia holds a Bachelors Degree in Music (Piano Performance), and a Master of Arts Degree (Vocal Performance), from the prestigious Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Cynthia Reneé works as a choir lecturer, music director, conductor, songwriter, vocal arranger, and vocal coach. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband and son.

KAREN MARIE RICHARDSON, mezzo A native of the 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) for the last 9 seasons. She is currently starring in the Off Broadway sensation Sleep No More as jazz chanteuse Stella Sinclair. There she has sung duets with P!nk and John Legend.

Karen Marie recently 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 in 2015/2016, 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 is featured on the pilot episode of Vinyl, directed by Martin Scorsese, on HBO. She is one of the few artists to perform in Duke Ellington’s Queenie Pie in the title role. (Long Beach Opera and Chicago Opera Theatre). She portrayed the Queen of Night in the BAZ DAZZLED series at Barneys New York under the direction of Baz Luhrmann. She can also be seen via YouTube as a featured vocalist in a few “viral videos.” She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Millikin University.

SOUNDINGS

2018/19

PROGRAM 3

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 throughout North America.

Notable operatic engagements include: Los Angeles Opera in the title role of Zemlinky’s Der Zwerg conducted by James Conlon, and as Walther von der Vogelweide in Tannhauser, Michigan Opera Theater as Tonio in La Fille Du Regiment, Todi Music Festival as Lenski in Eugene Onegin and as Tonio, Portland Opera in the title role of Les Contes d’Hoffmann; Opera Columbus for the premiere of Vanqui (Prince); and the Virginia Opera as Sportin’ Life in Porgy & Bess, Cincinnati Opera as the Duke in Rigoletto, and Opera Southwest in the title role of Rossini’s Otello. He has appeared in concert with the Atlanta Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, Cincinnati Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, West Virginia Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Millennium Park; Elgin Symphony, Rackham Symphony Chorus and the Concordia Orchestra at Lincoln Center. A gifted recitalist, Mr. Dixon earned rave reviews for his Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast honoring Roland Hayes on WFMT-FM/Chicago. He has also presented pre-concert recitals at the Cincinnati May Festival; completed a 30 city tour for Community Concerts and a duet concert “Following in the Footsteps” at Hampton University with Soprano Alfreda Burke, with whom he has also appeared in duet recitals for the Umbria Music Festival in Italy, Anchorage, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Tennessee, Detroit, Toronto, Dayton and Chicago. More at tenorroddixon.com

TRAVIS BRANAM, director, Too Hot To Handel Community Chorus Travis Branam has been an Assistant Conductor for the Colorado Symphony Chorus since 2014. In 2017, Travis presented at TEDx MileHigh about his innovative vocal music model for youth called Vocal Coalition (VOCO). The equity-driven model of VOCO guides divided communities on a journey from separation to connection through original Colorado songs, and continues to garner statewide and national attention. Travis is also the worship pastor at the Lakewood Church of Christ.

PROGRAM 4

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES TOO HOT TO HANDEL COMMUNITY CHORUS Travis Branam, director; Brian Dukeshier, Danni Snyder, pianists; Eric Israelson, Barbara Porter, chorus managers.

SOPRANO Maureen Allen Tanya Apel Lori Ascani Carol Baker Carolyn Benoit Helen Berkman Audrey Brown Aimee Cagande Susie Carahalios Susan Conner Kim Do Elizabeth Dries Gayle Duggan Evette Eldridge Kathy Frebel Eileen Gardner Suzanne Gendreau Brenda Gleason Emily Haack Norma Hafenstein Jessica Hall Brenda Hardwick Patricia Hartman Barbara Hessel Sally Hirsch Erin Hittle Sue Hubert Ruth Hund Ann-Marie Jackson Kimberly Jans Alma Jerome Alaxandra Josephs Mary Ladue Carrie Lamitie Marybeth Lehto Jennifer Lim Karen Lussier Pamela Luwish Annie McClure Sarah McLaughlin Ann Myers Erin Montigne Cindy Mueller Angie Nesbit

Christine Nyholm Kelly O’Leary Barbara Porter Shirley Rider AnneMarie Roberts Laurie Sindt Deb Stauffer Mary Strizek Carlie Tronel Deborah Viles Sue Von Roedern Donna Watkins Crystal Wilcox Joan Zisler ALTO Lora Adams Laura Baker Barbara Behl Lisa Boyum Emily Branam Beth Brown Mary Anne Buczyna Susan Burnett Peggy Carstens Beth Carter Martha Cearley Shi-Chin Chiang Martha Cox Bobbi Cress Deborah Davies Joyce Dominguez Amy Evancheck Marcia Ginley Deborah Herold Janet Holdsworth Sierra Hutchinson Terri Jaussi Tamara Jones Jennifer Ford Keel Emily Kolm Paula LaPrise Donna Madsen Joanna Maltzahn Karla Mason

Brandi McKenzie Andrea Morgan Lynnette Muncey Sarah Myers Kristen Nordenholz Connie Oehring Vicki Olson Gretchen Ordelheide Virginia Phillips Melody Pickett Patti Quarles Rhonda Renaud Ellie Roberts Liz Rodriguez Kathi Rudolph Nancy Shock Alexandria Sietz Sue Silverthorn Linda TeKrony Peggy Thompson Lynne Toedtli Ginny Trierweiler Mariza Vazquez Kate Williams Ruthie Williams Pamala Wolta Lynne Yancey TENOR John Ashworth Ria Barrows Rich Bauman Russell Bowe Vira Brock Jodell Chiles John Colvin Dusty Davies Don Davis Jack Dinkel Kathy Frazier John Gale Jacob Herold Galen Hockett David Keller Mikkel Kelly

SOUNDINGS

Ken Kolm Lisa Marie Main Todd McCracken Bethany Mesko Reinaldo Michelena Mark Muncey Ken Peach Susan Perez Heidi Piper James Russell Tammie Singer Hannis Thompson Jeffrey Weber BASS Vinny Alvino Henry Barlow Jeff Black Michael Blevins Nate Bryant Roger Burnett Don DeVeux James Esten Bob Friedlander Kenneth Guimond Caden Hirsch Richard Hittle Joel Houwer Eric Israelson Roy Kent Eric Kurtz Michael Madsen Andrew Martin Dan Olson Peter Ordelheide Frank Parce David Pierce Tom Potter Ken Quarles Russ Skillings Brian Underhill Danny Williams

2018/19

PROGRAM 5

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES TOO HOT TO HANDEL COMMUNITY CHORUS Since the inception of the Colorado Symphony performances of Too Hot To Handel in 1997, we have welcomed the participation of these fine Denver area choirs and choruses to the Too Hot To Handel Community Chorus.

All Souls Catholic Church Choir Alpine Chorale Arapahoe Community College Chorus Ars Nova Singers Arvada Center Chorale Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral Aster Women’s Chamber Choir Augustana Lutheran Church Bennie C. Williams Spiritual Voices Bethany Lutheran Church Boulder Chorale Brighton Community Chorus Broomfield Chorale Cantabile Singers Canto Spiritus Castle Rock Senior Center Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Centennial Covenant Church Chalice Singers - First Unitarian Society, Denver Cherry Creek Chorale Cherry Creek Presbyterian Cherry Hills Worship Choir Christ’s Episcopal Church, Castle Rock Christ The King Lutheran Church Church of the Risen Christ Colorado Cameo Club Chorus Colorado Choir Colorado Chorale Colorado Community Church Colorado Lutheran Chorale Colorado Mormon Chorale Colorado Repertory Singers Colorado Symphony Chorus Colorado Women’s Chorale Columbine Chorale Columbine United Church Cure D’ars Catholic Church Denver First Church Worship Choir Denver Gay Men’s Chorus Denver Pro Chorale Denver Woman’s Chorus Evans Choir Evergreen Chorale Evergreen Lutheran Church

PROGRAM 6

First Christian Reformed First United Methodist Church of Golden Fort Lupton United Methodist Church Generation Bible Church Georgetown Community Choir Good Shepherd Episcopal Golden Community Choir Grace Community Church of Westminster Grace Lutheran Church, Boulder Green Mountain United Methodist Church Impromptu Harvey Park Christian High Country Chorus Holy Cross Lutheran Church Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden Jubilate! Sacred Singers Kantorei Last Note Singers Mile Hi Church Choir Mt. View Methodist Church Montview Presbyterian Church Musicians of St. Clare Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church Never On Sunday Choir New Hope Baptist Church New Song Church Northland Chorale One World Singers Opera Colorado Chorus Opera Fort Collins Orchard Church Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Choir Park Hill United Methodist Church Phillips United Methodist Church Regis University Concert Choir Renaissance Singers Resonance Women’s Chorus of Boulder Ringtones Rocky Mountain Chorale Rocky Mountain Praise Choir Sacred Heart of Mary Salem Church of Christ

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

Seicento Baroque Ensemble Seniors 88 Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Shorter AME Church Silverado Chorale Simpson United Methodist Church Singers of the Advent Skyline Chorus Smoky Hill United Methodist Church Soar! Youth & Adult Choir Sounds of Our Savior Sounds of the Rockies Southeast Christian Church Spirit of Christ Church St. Andrews Presbyterian, Boulder St. Andrews United Methodist Church St. Augustine Church St. Barnabas Church St. Bernadette’s St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church St. Frances Cabrini St. James Catholic Church St. John’s Cathedral St. Laurence Episcopal St. Luke’s Episcopal St. Martin’s Chamber Choir St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church St. Stephan’s Lutheran Church St. Thomas More Catholic Church St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church The Crossing Church The Spirituals Project The Upper Room Trinity United Methodist Church Victory Christian Fellowship, Greeley VoicesWest Wellshire Presbyterian Church Wheat Ridge Community Chorale Wheat Ridge Congregational Church Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church Wheat Ridge United Church of Christ Wind Crest Chorale Zion Baptist Church

HOLIDAY PROGRAM NOTES 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.

—Ella M. Fredrickson

SOUNDINGS

2018/19

PROGRAM 7

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