Distinguished Concerts International to Present LUST AND LA FEMME MYSTIQUE, 3/10

Distinguished Concerts International New York presents an evening of musically epic proportions, featuring Carl Orff's 1936 masterwork Carmina Burana, as conducted by revered conductor Vance George, with a beautiful selection of music for women's chorus in celebration of International Women's Day, conducted by Hilary Apfelstadt and performed by 16 outstanding choruses hailing from across North America; Vienna; Hong Kong; Munich; Curitiba, Brazil; and Brunswick, Australia. Lust & La Femme Mystique takes place on Monday, March 10 at 7:00 PM at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center.

The earth-shattering tones of Orff's Carmina Burana, composed in 1936, can be heard on stages, televisions, and silver screens across the globe. Encompassing themes from love, fate, and fortune to sex, drinking, gambling, the work is based on a 12th century collection of monastic poetry, with texts in vernacular Latin, medieval French, and German. Conductor Vance George was granted a Grammy award for his recording of the work with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, which he conducted for 23 years. Carmina Burana features soloists Penelope Shumate, soprano; tenor Dillon McCartney; and baritone Keith Harris.

Women take center stage in the second half of the program, conducted by Hilary Apfelstadt, with compositions that give contemporary expression to women's perspectives, including music by composers Eleanor Daley, Joan Szymko and Jocelyn Hagen, as well as contemporary settings of poetry by Barbara Powis, Christina Rossetti, and Sara Teasdale. Nancy Telfer (The blue eye of God) and Stephen Chatman (The half moon) chose poetry about nature, while Muehleisen's Joy is based on poems that reflect the joy of human love. The program concludes with lively South American songs reminiscent of children's play (Travessura), and indigenous celebrations of a community in Ecuador (Cancion de Los Tsáchilas).

Founded by Iris Derke (General Director) and Jonathan Griffith (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor), DCINY is driven by passion and unwavering commitment to create unforgettable audience and performer experiences. DCINY's 2014 season features Eric Whitacre, Steven Schwartz, Christopher Tin, and much more.