Houston Chamber Choir Announces 19th Season, THE VOICES OF HOUSTON

Robert Simpson, Artistic Director and Founder of the Houston Chamber Choir is pleased to announce the Chamber Choir's 19th season: The Voices of Houston. Each of this season's offerings highlights the Houston Chamber Choir's multi-talented musicians in a wide range of diverse choral repertoire. 'The Voices of Houston' is a season of thrilling firsts as the Houston Chamber Choir welcomes Grammy Award-winning conductor Paul Hillier to Houston for the first time, celebrates its inaugural performance with the Houston Ballet, and makes its Miller Outdoor Theatre debut.

The 2014-2015 season opens in September with 'The Splendor of Venice', antiphonal music for 2 and 3 choirs by Gabrieli, Hassler, and Schütz presented in collaboration with preeminent Canadian sackbut and string ensemble ¡Sacabuche!.

In October, 'Love Me Do!' featuring Brahms and The Beatles returns with a special program at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

The Chamber Choir's November offering, 'Farewell to Arms,' is an observance of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I and the world's subsequent yearning for world peace. The program includes works by Richard Rodney Bennett, Karl Jenkins, and Francis Poulenc.

Houston Chamber Choir celebrates the joys of the Christmas season with a Houston holiday favorite, 'Noël, Noël: Christmas at the Villa' in December. This season the Chamber Choir offers a festive mixture of lilting carols, choral classics, and new works sure to become audience favorites.

The region's young choristers take the stage in January with another Houston Chamber Choir tradition:'Hear the Future.' The annual Invitational Choral Festival features notable Houston-area choirs from elementary to high school.

In February, internationally renowned choral conductor Paul Hillier makes his Houston debut leading the Chamber Choir in 'Baltic Sea Change.' This will be an evening of passionate music from the Baltic coast including works by Arvo Pärt and fellow composers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

As the Easter season approaches, 'Mozart's Messiah Magic' gives Houston audiences a rare chance to hear Mozart's re-orchestration of Handel's masterpiece at the time of year for which it was originally intended. Mozart updated this legendary oratorio with woodwinds, timpani, and extra brass, all essential instruments for a classical period composer.

'Sacred Visions,' presented in collaboration with Da Camera offers Stravinsky's moving Symphony of Psalms in a rarely heard version for chorus and two pianos. Adding to the drama of the program will be the lighting effects of Tony Award and MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" winner, Jennifer Tipton.

The final concert of the season marks the first joint performance of the Houston Chamber Choir and the Houston Ballet. Ji?í Kylián's Svadebka will be danced to one of the most important compositions in ballet history, Stravinsky's Les Noces featuring Houston Chamber Choir.

More details on each of the productions follow:

The Splendor of Venice | Antiphonal Music for 2 and 3 choirs
Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 7:30 pm
The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

Love Me Do!
Love Songs of the '60s
Sunday, October 5, 2014, 8:00 pm
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Free Admission

Farewell to Arms
Saturday, November 8, 2014, 7:30 pm
Christ Church Cathedral

Noël, Noël | Christmas at the Villa
Saturday, December 13, 2014, 3:30 & 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 14, 2014 3:30 & 7:30 pm
The Chapel of the Villa de Matel

Hear the Future
16th Annual Invitational School Choral Festival
Sunday, January 25, 2015, 4:00 pm
South Main Baptist Church
Free Admission

Baltic Sea Change | Music of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
Saturday, February 21, 2015, 7:30 pm
South Main Baptist Church

Mozart's Messiah Magic
Saturday, March 28, 2015, 7:30 pm
South Main Baptist Church

Sacred Visions
Saturday, May 2, 2015; 8:00 PM
Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center
Presented in collaboration with Da Camera

HOUSTON BALLET presents
Morris, Welch and Kylián with Houston Chamber Choir
7:30 pm on May 28, 30, June 5 & 6, 2015
2:00 pm on May 31, June 7, 2015
Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center
HoustonBallet.org or (713) 227-2787

Season subscription packages will be available for purchase on May 17, 2014. Individual tickets for concerts will go on sale on August 1, 2014. For more information visit www.houstonchamberchoir.org or call (713) 224-5566.

The Houston Chamber Choir is a professional ensemble dedicated to increasing the awareness, appreciation and esteem of choral music and musicians through performance, outreach and education. Described by Peter Phillips, founder of the Tallis Scholars, as "one of this country's leading ensembles," the Houston Chamber Choir was established in 1995 by Artistic Director Robert Simpson. In April 2012, Houston Chamber Choir made its New York City debut at Trinity Church Wall Street. The Choir continued its tour to Yale University by invitation of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music where it presented a master class and concert in Marquand Chapel. The Chamber Choir is showcased on the world premiere recording of Psalmi ad Vesperas (1694) by Giovanni Paolo Colonna and Ravishingly Russian, a recording of 19th and 20th century Russian secular choral music.

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