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Sunday, January 22, 2006 at 7 pm

The Barbara A. and Charles I. Schneider Concert

If you’ve got it, flaunt it! Singing the praises of visionaries, the Chorale happily shares the spotlight with the Disney Hall superstar pipe organ. Distinguished concert and recording organist Ken Cowan does the honors for the evening.

Enter the animal kingdom with Benjamin Britten. God and his presence in all creatures and things are extolled in the great British composer’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Filled with childlike wonder and symbolic word-painting, Britten based his work on whimsical poems — each about a different animal — written by the 18th century poet Christopher Smart.

Fall under the spell of Andrea Clearfield’s “compositional wizardry” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) with the West Coast premiere of the American composer’s vibrant The River of God. Britain’s 28 year old Tarik O’Regan, hailed as one of the most exciting composers to emerge in recent years, makes his company debut with Dorchester Canticles.

A cabaret-style Kiddush? Although not observant, Kurt Weill mixed blues and traditional chant styles in his innovative vision of a Sabbath prayer for cantor, choir and organ.

Franz Liszt scandalized as the first virtuoso sex-symbol with swooning women de rigueur at his impassioned piano concerts. In later years he found religion and composed emotional motets for voice and organ.

Leonard Bernstein created one of the most significant choral compositions of the 20th century with Chichester Psalms. Setting six psalms in three strongly tonal movements, his score dances through a celebration of joy, brings lyrical beauty to the boyish David’s famous “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” and culminates with one of Bernstein’s most inspired melodies.

Download a guide to the season: chorale-seasonguide0506.pdf, 1.1MB