Ensemble marks anniversary with suburban concerts
Bella Voce, one of the Midwest's leading a cappella vocal ensembles, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, continuing with spring concerts this weekend in the suburbs.
In case the name Bella Voce is unfamiliar, this critically acclaimed organization was founded in 1982 as His Majestie's Clerkes by Anne Heider, now the group's artistic director emeritus. The name was changed to Bella Voce in 2001.
This weekend's concerts, to be led by artistic director Andrew Lewis, will be held in River Forest and Evanston. Featured will be the music of five composers, headed by living American composer Eric Whitacre (born in 1970) and 16th century British composers Robert White and William Byrd.
"Eric Whitacre's music is marked by an acute sensitivity to color, texture, and timbre, which is something I always look to bring to our audiences," Lewis said. His writing for voices draws on his experience as a singer and on his desire to express ideas and feelings immediately to his audience. Singing his music requires absolutely perfect intonation and balance as well as the desire to sing your heart out unafraid of what others might think, all qualities at which Bella Voce excels."
The Whitacre works on the concert are "I thank God for this amazing day," the third of his "Three Songs of Praise." Featured will be soprano soloist Laura Lynch.
The choir also will present the Whitacre works "Sleep," from the poem by Charles Anthony Silvestri; and "Water Night" (set to a poem by Octavio Paz).
Robert White, one of the finest composers of the Elizabethan age, will be heard in one of his greatest choral works, "Lamentations."
White's contemporary, William Byrd, will be represented on the concert by his "Miserere mei," "Ave verum corpus" and "Sing joyfully," written for a cappella chorus.
Lewis is also music director of the Elgin Choral Union, artistic director emeritus of the Lutheran Choir of Chicago, cantor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Evanston, conductor of the Women's Choral Ensemble at the University of Illinois-Chicago and founder and artistic director of The Janus Ensemble, a professional orchestra and chamber choir specializing in Baroque and new music.
This weekend's concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 W. Division St., River Forest; and 4 p.m. Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 616 Lake Street, Evanston.
For ticket prices and availability, or to place an order, call (312) 479-1096, or visit www.bellavoce.org, where you can purchase your tickets via Paypal. The Web site also includes directions and parking information for the churches in River Forest and Evanston, as well as the group's recently announced 2008-09 concert season.