Audition for the Ars Nova Singers!
Auditions for all voice parts will be held from June 30 through July 17.
Click here for more information and instructions.
Announcing our 24th Season: 2009-2010
Exploration
ex•plor•a•tion | noun
1. the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it : a journey of exploration | a voyage into unknown territory.
2. a thorough analysis of a subject or theme : an exploration of the musical dimensions of our lives.Travel beyond the horizon of your experience with the singers of Ars Nova and conductor Thomas Edward Morgan. Bold, daring, inspiring choral music from the Early Renaissance to the avant-garde. Thoughtfuly crafted, sonically lush programs of music that traverse the range of human emotion. Join Ars Nova for these exciting voyages of discovery, joyous journeys into the world of music.
Season-Opening Gala Celebration: Embarkation
Tuesday, September 15th - Rembrandt Yard, BoulderA Voice from Afar
With special guests Jurgen de Lemos, cello and Tana Cochran, soprano
Travel to distant shores, carried aloft by two of our region’s most spectacular voices. Jurgen de Lemos, principal cellist of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, retired after 41 years with the symphony in May of this year. Join us for this rare opportunity to hear this most extraordinary musician, in a program of works for cello, soprano and chorus. Featured music includes the Colorado premiere of young British composer Tarik O’Regan’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis: Variations for Choir, John Tavener’s Svyati and Akhmatova Songs, and music by Gregg Smith, Joan Szymko, and Bill Douglas. Soprano Tana Cochran will be highlighted in Helletused (Childhood Memory) by the preeminent composer of Baltic choral music Veljo Tormis.
October 9 & 10, 2009Home for the Holidays: Christmas with Ars Nova
Seasonal music with a uniquely Ars Nova atmosphere! Glorious polyphony from the Spanish Renaissance and the Mexican Baroque, and modern masterpieces resound in this joyful holiday program featuring festive Christmas dances, ballads, villancicos, and carols.
December 11, 12, 17 & 18, 2009Chanson d’ Amour: A Romantic Recital
An intimate Valentine’s Day recital of solo and small ensemble music presented by Ars Nova’s professional singers.
February 13, 14Requiem: Music of Richafort, Howells and Pizzetti
The Requiem mass for the dead dates back to the middle ages, and has inspired composers throughout the centuries as vehicle for profound personal expression. Jean Richafort’s (ca. 1480- ca. 1547) Requiem for 6 Voices from the high Renaissance was composed in honor of the greatest composer of the 16th century, Josquin. Herbert Howells (1892-1983) wrote his Requiem in 1936 after the death of his 5 year old son from polio. He considered it such a personal work that he withheld it from publication until 1980. The Italian composer Ildebrando Pizzetti’s (1880-1968) Messa di Requiem, composed in 1922, is a work firmly steeped in the Gregorian tradition. The composer weaves an intriguing twentieth-century web over the familiar melodies.
March 12, 13, 19Hollywood! Choral Music from the Movies
“Come with be, and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination.” The power of the moving picture has been enhanced by the singing voice for many decades. Join us for an unusual program of film music, featuring original works and arrangements by Samuel Barber, György Ligeti, Randy Newman, Charles H. H. Parry, Patrick Doyle, and others.
May 21, 22
Watch this space for ticket ordering information...coming soon!
Au revoir, Robert!
All things must pass and, following our final concert this May, Ars Nova Singers will sadly bid adieu to Robert Sussuma, Vocal Coach and counter-tenor soloist, after five seasons with the choir. As vocal coach, Robert has been at the heart of teaching and implementing the techniques that craft the voices responsible for Ars Nova’s unique sound. Robert is also one of Ars Nova’s virtuoso soloists and an audience favorite when performing solo or small group Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music.
Having instructed the choir in the techniques of the Estill Voice Training method, Robert leaves his mark on Ars Nova in the vocal techniques, professional encouragement, and personal empowerment of the singers to take charge of their vocal health, perform at their very best, and bring a higher level of personal conviction and artistic accomplishment to each Ars Nova performance.
We caught up with Robert to ask him about his time with Ars Nova, choral music in Colorado, and what the future holds for him:
Q. During your tenure as Ars Nova’s vocal coach, what has been the greatest change you've seen in the choir?
Group cohesion. Because of the Estill training the choir immerses itself in, I've seen the group come together in new ways that enhances its ability to get to the creative core of challenging choral compositions. We’ve developed a subtle palette of vocal colors and fine-tuned the vocal options Tom [Morgan] has to choose from to craft a very specific and unique choral performance. I've seen individuals grow in ability and ease as each individual voice now knows a common vocal language and can confidently contribute toward creating a whole that is greater than its parts.
Ars Nova was the first core-professional choir in the nation to be Estill certified and it has made a tremendous difference in group cohesion, confidence, and professionalism. I’ve also watched Tom grow as a singer, performer, and conductor. It has all been very exciting and I was glad to have been part of it.
Q. What was your favorite performance moment with Ars Nova?
Although there have been many, many great performances over the years, I would have to say that my favorite concert was probably one of our most unique -- our performance of Carmina Burana with the Frequent Flyers [Aerial Dance Company] at Macky in 2006. That we were working with such talented dancers was enough to make it memorable, but the choir was so crisp and intentional in our singing that there was such a high level of electricity in the air that evening. We took a potentially trite and overdone piece and made it fresh and exciting. And the audience felt the energy and responded as I’ve never seen before. What more could you want as a performer?
Q. You’re returning to your hometown… what are your plans in New York City?
As of now, I'll be the vocal coach for the Gay Men's Chorus of New York City. Fabulous! And I'm currently in the interview process to teach in the Musical Theater Department at Pace University in Manhattan. I'm also planning to sing professionally, especially more Early Music. Medieval in Manhattan – how great is that?.
Q. How can Ars Nova build upon the Estill Voice Training groundwork you've laid down?
[Laughing] Good question. Estill is very much an individual process and, since no other choir has incorporated Estill as much as Ars Nova, Tom and I have been navigating uncharted territory as we’ve adapted its techniques for the choir. In some respect we’ve been making this up as we've gone along – fortunately it’s all worked! I’ve made Estill believers of Tom and our section leaders, so I don't think the use and application of those vocal techniques will be abandoned. And I’m always available for long-distance consultation.
Q. Any parting advice for the singers? The audience? Choral music in Colorado?
Singers – Stay aware! Retract! Anchor! Audience – Enjoy! You have a wealth of musical opportunities to choose from. Colorado – Demand more of your choral groups. Push for creative excellence and innovative programming. Attend more Ars Nova concerts and hear what a true standard of excellence they are!
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[a] magnificent collection of voices…”
- Westword, The Best of Denver
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