Orange County Performing Arts Center Concerts Information & Events

Costa Mesa, Calif.-- PACIFIC CHORALE’S CHORAL FESTIVAL FEATURES FREE PUBLIC CONCERT

Choral Festival on August 23, 2009, sponsored by The Shanbrom Family Foundation, featured up to 400 choristers, with conductor John Alexander and organist Frederick Swann

Free public performance of choral masterworks at Orange County Performing Arts Center

On Sunday, August 23, 2009, at 5:00 p.m., members of Orange County’s choral community joined Pacific Chorale and Artistic Director John Alexander in a free public performance of great choral treasures in the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Joining the assembled singers was eminent organist Frederick Swann at the C.B. Fisk Opus 130 William J. Gillespie Concert Organ. Pacific Chorale’s Choral Festival is generously sponsored by The Shanbrom Family Foundation. Seating for this free event will be first-come, first-serve. Pacific Chorale recommends arriving early for best seating availability. The concert hall doors opened at 4:30 p.m.
The Choral Festival initiative is modeled after the highly successful finale performance of Pacific Chorale’s 2008 NEA-sponsored American Masterpieces Choral Festival. That performance, which drew a capacity audience, also featured community choristers performing alongside members of Pacific Chorale.

The performers gathered to rehearse on Friday and Saturday prior to the concert.
A new component in 2009 was an optional musicianship class offered to participants in advance of the Festival weekend. Forty members of the Festival Chorus took part in these sessions in early August, where they received valuable sight-singing and rhythm training through a curriculum grounded in the Festival repertoire.  Music for the Choral Festival has been selected from masterworks of the choral literature, and is designed as a showcase of “Great Choral Treasures.” In addition to the Festival Chorus’s performance, Dr. Swann was featured at the organ in several solo works.

FESTIVAL REPERTOIRE:
Beethoven Hallelujah from The Mount of Olives, Op. 85
J. S. Bach Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, BWV 147
Toccata and Fugue in D minor (organ solo)
Fauré Introit and Kyrie from Requiem, Op. 48
Mendelssohn He watching over Israel from Elijah
And then shall your light break forth from Elijah
Cocker Tuba Tune (organ solo)
arr. Wilberg Peace Like a River
arr. Swann Improvisation on “Londonderry Air” (organ)
arr. Wilhousky Battle Hymn of the Republic

Additional support for Pacific Chorale’s Choral Festival has been provided by The Capital Group Companies and the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The Festival is part of the Performing Arts Center’s Free at the Center.

Founded in 1968, Pacific Chorale is internationally recognized for exceptional artistic expression, stimulating American-focused programming, and influential education programs. Pacific Chorale presents a significant performance season of its own at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and is sought regularly to perform with the nation’s leading symphonies. Under the inspired guidance of Artistic Director John Alexander, Pacific Chorale has infused an Old World art form with California’s hallmark innovation and cultural independence.

Pacific Chorale has a membership of 140 professional and volunteer singers. Ensembles of various sizes are selected from the membership according to the needs of the repertoire. In addition to its long-standing partnership with Pacific Symphony, the Chorale has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Disney Hall on numerous occasions. Other noted collaborations include the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, the National Symphony, and the Long Beach, Pasadena, Riverside and San Diego symphonies. John Alexander and the Chorale have toured extensively in Europe, South America and Asia.

Many concerts and events are featured throughout the year.