When the Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra closes its 26th annual season this weekend in joint performances with the Cantiamo! Cabrillo chorale and the Cabrillo Youth Chorus, concert goers will be treated to a diverse and chronological program of traditional (Brahms’ Serenade 1), modern (Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms) and contemporary works (Rihards Dubra’sTe Deum).
“After 26 seasons, the challenge is to keep the programming fresh,” Artistic Director John Anderson says. “Programing is the most exciting thing I get to do. It’s a treasure hunt, and the treasures you discover are often amazing.”
The Brahms piece is a case-in-point, with twists and turns usually reserved for program-closing pieces here displayed as an opener. Originally conceived for a very small nine-piece orchestra, in modern times it is usually performed arranged for a full chamber orchestra, a practice Anderson eschews.
“This is as close as we are going to get to how Brahms originally conceived it,” Anderson says. “It has a distinct intimacy that the larger version lacks.”
The other two-thirds of this program is vocal, featuring the elite adult and youth choirs from Cabrillo College in Aptos, both led by Anderson’s wife, Cheryl Anderson.
Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms is a modern, emotional work based on Hebrew texts from the Old Testament.
“Psalm 23, sung by the women with a child soloist, is one of the most poignant moments in the entire choral literature,” Cheryl says.
There has been a resurgence of sacred music from the post-Soviet Baltic republics, and this outing concludes with Te Deum, from contemporary Latvian composer Rihards Dubra.
“The Te Deum chant can be traced back to 387 A.D.,” she says. “Thick chords unfold in a beautiful backdrop of melodies and plainsong chants, with a sparse orchestra of just organ, three percussionists playing two sets of chimes and a gong, French horn and soprano saxophone, along with 65 singers. There is a spectacular conclusion where one is left with a complete absence of sound after having been riveted over and over again by walls and walls of sound. It’s exciting, passionate and penetrating.”
Both Andersons give pre-concert notes an hour before the show.
ENSEMBLE MONTEREY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA with CANTIAMO! CABRILLO CHORALE and the CABRILLO YOUTH CHORUS 8pm Saturday, April 28. All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Dolores and Ninth, Carmel. $40; $30/seniors 65+; $10/students under 22. 333-1283, ensemblemonterey.org
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.