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Columbia Pro Cantare
2007-2008 CPC 31st Anniversary Season
Select the name of the venue for a map and directions
 

Mendelssohn Elijah

October 27, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.
The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake
5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia, MD

Columbia Pro Cantare Chorus continues its 30th year celebration by kicking off its 31st Season with choral favorite Elijah, under the baton of Frances Motyca Dawson, founder and Artistic Director, celebrating her 30th year with CPC.   The chorus is joined by full orchestra and four outstanding soloists: April-Joy Gutierrez, soprano; Mary Ann McCormick, mezzo, tenor Todd Geer, and Lester Lynch, baritone, who thrilled the enthusiastic audience with his singing of the title role in 2001 and received rave reviews.

Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah is second only to Handel's Messiah in popularity.  A number of the arias and choruses have been arranged for church choirs and are still performed as part of a familiar and well-loved repertory.  The striking choral and orchestral effects, tender lyricism and stirring arias sweep the listener into a grand epic story in which evil is punished and faith is vindicated

A pre-concert lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m.., and the concert will be followed by a reception.

TICKETS: Advance: $23, $20 for seniors/students. $2 more at the door. Group rates are available for 10 or more.  Credit card charges will be accepted.  Subscription concert. 

Handel: Messiah

December 2, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake
5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia, MD

The Columbia Pro Cantare continues its tradition of performing the Christmas portion and selections from Parts II and III of Handel's Messiah with festival orchestra and an electrifying ensemble of soloists, including soprano Amy Van Roekel, mezzo Deborah Domanski, Metropolitan Opera tenor Mark Schowalter, and acclaimed baritone Lester Lynch.

A free lecture precedes the concert at 6:30 and refreshments will be served at intermission.  Order early... Don't miss the chance to participate in a 250 year old tradition!

TICKETS: Advance:$23, $20 for seniors/students. $2 more at the door.  Credit card charges will be accepted.  Subscription concert. 

Program Notes

A Christmas Noël with the CPC Chamber Singers

December 9, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church
6800 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD

The Chamber Singers will perform their eleventh annual concert of Christmas music, some familiar,  mostly sung a cappella.  Be inspired by the sound of 30 voices selected from the Pro Cantare for their musicianship and vocal blend as well as the settings, especially chosen for their fine acoustics.

TICKETS: Advance:$15, $13 for seniors/students. $2 more at the door. Credit Charges will be accepted.  Subscription concert.

Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert

March 9, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
3604 Chatham Road
Ellicott City, MD

Columbia Pro Cantare chorus is joined by the Eric Mintel Quartet, soprano Vikki Jones, and narrator Joseph Murray in selections from Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert, including Freedom Word You Heard, Heaven, Come Sunday, Is God a Three Letter Word for Love? at 1st Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ellicott City.  This venue, with its beautiful wood and glass interior, is a perfect setting for this inspirational jazz piece.

Tickets: Advance: $20, $18 for seniors/students.  $2 more at the door.  Credit charges will be accepted.  Subscription concert.

A Latin American Spring

May 3, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.
The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake
5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia, MD

CPC presents its first concert featuring the music of Latin America on May 3, 2008, 8:00 pm at The Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake, 5460 Trumpeter Rd., Columbia, MD 21044.  The concert will span more than three centuries, include music from five countries in four languages, and feature Latin American and traditional instruments, featuring April-Joy Gutierrez, favorite CPC soloist, an award-winning soprano known for singing many of the most demanding roles in the lyric repertoire, as well as Mezzo Soprano Cyndie Eberhardt, Alison Matuskey, celebrated pianist, and Marc Dubac, clarinetist

 The concert will begin with Hanacpachap, one of the first polyphonic pieces of music composed and published in the “new world” in the early 1600’s, and was sung while the singers entered the church.  CPC will sing it in the original Quechan language of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas in Peru. 

 The centerpiece of the program is Misa Criolla, a folk mass composed by Ariel Ramirez in 1963 for mixed chorus and soloists accompanied by indigenous instruments.  It is based on South American folk music, particularly the rhythms and melodies of Argentina and Brazil.  By combining popular and liturgical styles, it succeeds in conveying religious beliefs through a popular medium of expression.

 Also featured is Heitor Villa Lobos’s beloved Bachianas Brasileiras, No. 5, a “fusion" piece composed between 1938 and 1945 in which the composer combines forms of Brazilian folk music with those of the J.S. Bach.  It will be sung in Portuguese and a wordless Aria by April Joy Gutierrez. 

 Villa Lobos will also be represented by four sacred choral works, Ave Maria, Ave Verum, Panis Angelicus, and Pater Noster.

 The significant contribution of Cuban composers to 20^th century music will be represented by Ernesto Lecuona’s ever-popular Malagueña (from the Andalusia Suite for piano) and Guggenheim Fellowship Award Winner Pacquito D’Rivera’s Song for Peace, also featuring April Joy Gutierrez, Alison Matuskey, and Marc Dubac.  Mr. Dubac, Principal Clarinet of the Green Bay Symphony, was the winner of the 2005 "Rising Star' award at the Howard County Arts Council's 8th annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County. Ms. Matuskey will also play a tango suite Angel  by Argentine’s foremost ambassador of tango music, Astor Piazzola.

 The CPC Chamber Chorus will perform Brazilian composer Dorival Caymmi’s Marina and the Brazilian folk song for children, Sambalele , and Estrellita del Sur, by Argentine composer Felipe Coronel Rueda.  The concert will end with the following songs that have become a part of American popular culture:  Cielito Lindo (Traditional Mexican), Guantanamera (Jose Fernandez Diaz, music and Jose Marti, lyrics), Sin Ti (Letra de Pepe Guizar) and La Bamba (Cancion de Veracruz). 

 The concert will be followed by a festive bazaar featuring foods from Latin America and gifts that will be for sale.  Proceeds from the sale of gifts will benefit FIRN, Inc, a non-profit organization in Howard County that provides a variety of services to immigrants from over 70 countries.  Additional information about FIRN, Inc is available on their website at http://www.firnonline.org/.

                 Advance ticket prices are Adults $23, Seniors and Students $20.  Prices at the door are $25 and $22.  Groups of 10 or more $16 each if ordered by April 30.  For further information, call 301-854-0107 or 410-799-9321 or consult www.procantare.org.  SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT.

For further information, call 301-854-0107 or 410-799-9321.

Why not become a subscriber?  A subscription purchaser receives a 20% discount off individual concert ticket prices and receives tickets to 4 full chorus concerts and CPC Chamber Singers' inspiring "A Christmas Noël" on the afternoon of December 9 at Christ Episcopal Church in Columbia.  For information call 301-854-0107 or go to the tickets page.