LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top 40 Charts/ Angeles Chorale) - The Angeles Chorale, a world-class, large choral ensemble based in Los Angeles, led by world-renowned choral conductor and artistic director Donald Neuen, will join a full baroque orchestra composed of members of the American Youth Symphony for a spirited, historically-authentic performance of Messiah by
George Frideric Handel on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 8:00pm at the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena at 500 East Colorado Blvd.
Neuen, Distinguished Professor and Director of Choral Activities at UCLA, served for twelve years in the same capacity at the Eastman School of Music and was a prot�g� and Assistant Conductor/Director of Choral Activities for Robert Shaw with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Neuen also conducts the landmark Crystal Cathedral Choir in Garden Grove, CA, appearing weekly on their internationally-televised "Hour of Power" broadcast.
Neuen is one of the world's leading scholars on the Messiah, previously having worked with preeminent Handel musicologists Jens Peter Larsen and Alfred Mann. Neuen has chosen to present Mann's score, with his own edits approved by Mann, as the version most closely representing the original 1741 composition.
'There are few major choral works in which the composer was so successful in combining vital rhythmic energy with beautiful melodic lines,' said Neuen. 'In doing so, Handel embraced the stylistic writing of the Renaissance (which pre-dated him), the then current Baroque style, and maybe even unknowingly ventured into the future with extremely powerful and dramatic musical moments.'
Featured soloists include Timothy Gonzales (tenor), Courtney Taylor (soprano), Jane Shim (mezzo soprano) and Steve Pence (baritone).
'The Messiah is a holiday favorite of audiences around the world,' said Associate Director and Azusa Pacific University Director of Choral Activities John Sutton, 'but none of the performances will likely rival the authenticity and mastery of Donald Neuen's interpretation and presentation.'
The Angeles Chorale has presented master choral works to Los Angeles audiences for more than a third of a century. High-profile guest appearances include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony, Glendale Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and most recently the Video Games Live concert tour at L.A.'s new Nokia Theater. Angeles Chorale voices are also often heard nationwide in cinemas and on television, as they have recorded large numbers of choral sequences used in feature film trailers, television advertising and scores.
The Angeles Chorale's 2007-2008 season is themed Legacy: A Season of Choral Masterworks and will also include Stabat Mater by Antonin Dvorak in April 2008 and Brahms' Requiem in June 2008. Tickets to Messiah are available for $30 with discounted $25 tickets available for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. Order online at www.angeleschorale.org or call 818-591-1735.
