Durango Women’s Choir. Courtesy/SFWE
SFWE News:
After a pandemic hiatus, the Santa Fe Women’s Ensemble (SFWE) and the Durango Women’s Choir will join forces to present concerts in both Durango and Santa Fe in June. Combining into one chorus, the groups will perform three exhilarating pieces that celebrate women singing together.
For Norwegian-American Ola Gjeilo’s dramatic “Gloria,” Bill Epstein and Christi Livingston, collaborative pianists for each group, unite to perform the exciting four-hand piano accompaniment.
“Choose Something Like a Star,” with poetry by Robert Frost and music by Randall Thompson, delivers a message of hope and perseverance especially poignant in our challenging times of turmoil and imbalance. This “conversation” between humanity and a bright star sheds light on how to remain steadfast in our purpose despite outer circumstances.
The concert ends with “She Rises,” with music and text by Catherine Dalton. This stunning exploration of the “physics of light and the mystery of illumination through the power of the human voice,” says Dalton, is a powerful Celtic-shaped melody honoring Brigid, the Celtic goddess of the sun.
In addition, each group will perform a set of solo pieces. The Women’s Ensemble is singing “Colorful,” by Philip E. Silvey; “The Voyage,” by Marie-Claire Saindon; “A Red Robin,” by Daniel Brinsmead; and “By Night,” by Elaine Hagenberg. The Durango Choir is presenting “Ad Astra,” by Jacob Narverud; “I Am the Wind,” by Elaine Hagenberg; “Bright Morning Stars,” arranged by Shawn Kirchner; and “Let Me Fly,” arranged by Robert DeCormier.
We invite you to join us for this foot-stomping, exuberant celebration as we inch near to the Summer Solstice.
The concert is at First Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 9. Suggested minimum donation is $10/adult. This support helps fund our educational outreach, which includes free children/youth concerts.
This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts.