Chicago Chorale presents Tango Mass
Chicago Chorale will present Argentine composer Martín Palmeri's "Misa a Buenos Aires" or "Misatango" in two performances: Saturday, March 25, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Old Town and Sunday, March 26, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Hyde Park.
Rarely performed in Chicago, "Misatango" was written and premiered in Buenos Aires in 1996. It received international attention in 2013, when it was performed at the Vatican to honor Pope Francis, formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, an avowed tango lover and tango dancer in his youth.
In his composition, Palmeri (b. 1965) sets the text of the Roman Catholic Mass to the harmonies and syncopated rhythms of nuevo tango, a style popularized by Astor Piazzolla (1921-92). The piece features a mezzo soprano soloist and orchestra of piano, strings, and bandoneon, a type of concertina popular in Argentina and Uruguay. Featured guest artists for Chicago Chorale's performances include mezzo soprano Raquel Winnica Young, bandoneonista Charles Gorcyznsk, and pianist Kit Bridges as well as Jeff Young (viola), Dr. Jaime Gorgojo (Violin I), James Sanders (Violin II), Matthew Agnew (cello), and Christian Dillingham (Bass).
Chicago Chorale Artistic Director Bruce Tammen said, "'Misatango' offers our singers and listeners the chance to grapple with the beauty and complexity of tango tradition - a fusion of music and dance styles from Africa and Europe that originated in the impoverished port districts of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Palmeri's music is exhilarating. It bridges the gap between popular and classical music in a way that will thrill the audience."
Performance Details:
March 25, 2023 @ 8:00 PM
St. Michael Catholic Church (Old Town)
1633 N. Cleveland Ave.
March 26, 2023 @ 3:00 PM
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (Hyde Park)
5472 S. Kimbark Ave.
Advance Tickets: $35 Reserved, $25 General Admission ($30/door), $15 Student ($20/door)
About Chicago Chorale:
Chicago Chorale is a professional-level ensemble of volunteer singers who share a commitment to broadening listeners' awareness of and emotional connection to great choral music. The 60-voice choir is recognized for sensitive and thought-provoking performances of diverse repertoire, including overlooked and newly commissioned pieces. Celebrated for its "sumptuous blend" and "expressive versatility," the choir's 2019 presentation of Einojuhani Rautavaara's "Vespers" was named one of Chicago Classical Review's Top-Ten Performances.
Learn more about Martín Palmeri's Misatango and the guest artists at www.chicagochorale.org/misatango-2023.