season brochure - Conspirare

MAY“What a blessing Conspirare is to me and to thousands all over the country.”JUNE“Such a lush, incredible assemblage of voices and instruments.”Songs of the SoulFriday, May 31, 8pmSt. John Neumann Catholic Church, Austin One Austin performance!Beethoven: Missa SolemnisTwo hundred musicians,one monumental masterworkRobert Kyr’s Songs of the Soul transfixed audiences when ConspirareSunday, June 9, 4pmLong Center for the Performing Arts, Austin8David Farwig, baritoneAbigail Haynes Lennox, sopranopremiered it in 2011. Now Company of Voices, soprano and baritonesoloists, and the Victoria Bach Festival string orchestra reprise thisenthralling modern cantata, in a new sacred space with superbacoustics. Plus the world premiere of a new Kyr work The Cloud ofUnknowing, based on 14 th century mystical texts. A sublime eveningnot to be missed – soon to be another fabulous Conspirare recording.These performances and recording are made possible by the generoussupport of the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, National Endowment forthe Arts, Nancy Scanlan, and an anonymous patron.Also Saturday, June 1, 7:30pm at First United Methodist Churchin Victoria, in collaboration with the Victoria Bach Festival.Tickets and info at victoriabachfestival.org.Robert Kyr, composerThrill to the irresistible dynamism of one of the world’s mostdramatic choral works. Craig Hella Johnson conducts an expandedCompany of Voices (including Conspirare Symphonic Choir, TexasState University singers, and the Victoria Bach Festival Chorus),soloists, and full Victoria Bach Festival orchestra in Beethoven’smonumental masterpiece. The 20th anniversary season’s grand finale!Free pre-concert talk at 3pm by music educator Margaret Perry,director of the Armstrong Community Music School.Soloists: Soprano Mary Wilson (top), bass-baritone Kevin Deas (center left),mezzo-soprano Emily Lodine (center right), and tenor Dann Coakwell (bottom).Also Saturday, June 8, 7:30pm at VictoriaFine Arts Center, in collaboration with theVictoria Bach Festival. Tickets and info atvictoriabachfestival.org.“I’ve never enjoyed a choralconcert any more than [this]… The musicians’ perfection,control and stamina wasbreathtaking.”9