The program, conducted by CONCORA Artistic Director Richard Coffey, will feature J.S. Bach's Cantata 70 ("Watch, pray, be prepared"Â), Motet III ("Jesus, my Great Joy"Â), Organ Fantasia on "Jesu, meine Freude"Â and Cantata 147, ("Heart and mouth and deed and life"Â) based on the beloved chorale, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."Â Tickets for this concert are currently on sale.
The RBC Dain Rauscher Matinee Series is presented by RBC Dain Rauscher.
Richard Coffey, Artistic Director of CONCORA, is one of New England's principal choral conductors. He founded CONCORA, Connecticut Choral Artists, as a professional vocal ensemble in 1974. Coffey is Organist and Minister of Music of South Church, New Britain, where he conducts a choir of professional and amateur singers and serves as Artistic Director of its Music Series, which annually presents concerts by visiting artists. He is also the music director of the Hartford Chorale.
CONCORA's mission, "to perpetuate and perform with excellence choral music of the highest quality for the broadest possible audience,"Â represents a commitment to the Connecticut community, a commitment to artistic excellence, masterful performances, and educational enrichment - enhancing the lives of generations. Since its founding in 1974 by its Conductor and Artistic Director, Richard Coffey, CONCORA has held a unique place in the arts community as Connecticut's premier professional choir, and has built an extraordinary reputation for artistic excellence throughout New England. CONCORA was the recipient of the 2003 Governor's Arts Award, in recognition of remarkable artistic achievement and contributions to the arts in Connecticut.
CONCORA has appeared often with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and has also performed on many occasions with Orchestra New England, and has served as the resident chorus of the esteemed Bard Festival with the American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein, Director. The chorus has performed in concert with Chanticleer, the Gregg Smith Singers, John Rutter's Cambridge Singers, and Bobby McFerrin.
CONCORA's educational outreach consists of two highly successful programs. For children, the CONCORA-to-Go quartet presents an interactive, multicultural program, "Around the World in Music,"Â performed in area elementary schools and public libraries. The summer festival workshop offers adult singers from the community and select high school and college singers an opportunity to join with CONCORA in rehearsing and performing great choral works.
CONCORA made its New York debut in 1998 with A 75th Birthday Tribute to Ned Rorem, who called CONCORA "the finest chorus in America."Â CONCORA's recording of Rorem's choral works received national acclaim in The Choral Journal. CONCORA has produced eight compact discs: "Made in USA,"Â "A Sacred Sampler,"Â "Christmas with CONCORA,"Â "Christmas in Our Time,"Â "A Retro Christmas with CONCORA,"Â "Sing, My Soul,"Â featuring the choral works of Ned Rorem, "The Six Motets of J.S. Bach,"Â with Orchestra New England, and "The Men of CONCORA."Â A new studio recording, "Songs and Stories of Liberation,"Â has just been released. -- www.hartfordsymphony.org
Posted February 28th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
