THURSDAY, MAY 3, AT 8 PM

Series Supported by a Generous Grant from the Colburn Foundation

Chanticleer, the Grammy-winning, all-male, 12-member "orchestra of voices," returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall to perform an expansive program of music, Thursday, May 3, at 8 p.m. The program is part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's Colburn Celebrity Series.

The San Francisco-based ensemble has a reputation for vivid interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz and from gospel to venturesome new music, with a seamless blend of voices ranging from countertenor to bass. Led by Music Director Joseph Jennings, Chanticleer is comprised of Eric S. Brenner, Dylan Hostetter and Michael McNeil, sopranos; Alan Reinhardt, William Sauerland and Adam Ward, altos; Brian Hinman, Matthew D. Oltman and Todd Wedge, tenors; and Eric Alatorre, Gabriel Lewis-O'Connor and Jace R. Wittig, baritone and bass.

The May 3 program spans medieval to contemporary music by such composers as Palestrina, Gesualdo, Brahms, Delius, Messiaen, Corigliano and many more, as well as a selection of World folk songs.

The Colburn Celebrity series offers virtuoso performances by world-renowned artists. The remaining recital this season is Hélène Grimaud, piano (June 17, 2007, rescheduled from an earlier date).

CHANTICLEER, named for the "clear-singing" rooster in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, was founded in 1978 by tenor Louis Botto, who sang with the group until 1989 and served as artistic director until his death in 1997. Music Director Joseph Jennings joined the ensemble as a countertenor in 1983 and shortly thereafter assumed his current title. A prolific composer and arranger, Jennings has provided the group with some of its most popular repertoire, most notably spirituals, gospel music, and jazz standards. Chanticleer's long-standing commitment to developing the choral repertoire has led the group to commission works from an ever-growing list of important composers. Past commissions include works by Mark Adamo, Chen Yi, Régis Campo, David Conte, Brent Michael Davids, Anthony Davis, Guido López-Gavilán, William Hawley, Jake Heggie, Jackson Hill, Jeeyoung Kim, Tania León, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, John Musto, Bernard Rands, Steven Sametz, Carlos Sanchez-Guttierez, Paul Schoenfield, Steven Stucky, John Tavener and Augusta Read Thomas. Since 1994, Chanticleer has recorded exclusively for Warner Classics, making the group's recordings available worldwide and garnering numerous Grammy awards. Chanticleer's three Christmas recordings are especially popular, as is the DVD of the 2002 Christmas concert at the Metropolitan Museum of New York, which is broadcast nationally on public television. In its past appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall's holiday concerts, Chanticleer was the first program to sell out. With the help of individual contributions and foundation and corporate support, the group brings the gift of singing to young people by conducting artist-in-the-schools residencies and Chanticleer Youth Choral Festivals. In addition to extensive Bay Area educational activities, the ensemble conducts master classes while on tour.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable places anywhere to experience music - Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association's involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational programs, community concerts and children's programming, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007, AT 8 PM

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

Colburn Celebrity Series

CHANTICLEER

FINZI My Spirit Sang All Day

        Veni sponsa Christi (plainsong)

PALESTRINA Veni sponsa Christi

DANIEL-LESUR "Epithalame" from Le Cantique des Cantiques

GESUALDO Selected madrigals

POULENC Three selections from Sept chansons

MESSIAEN "Très vif" from Cinq rechants

STOCKHAUSEN "Die Nachtigal" from Chöre für Doris

BRAHMS Nachtwache, Op. 104, No. 1

DELIUS To Be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water, No. 1

CORIGLIANO L'invitation au voyage

WHITACRE This Marriage

TAVENER Village Wedding

And various selected World folksongs, popular songs, and spirituals

Tickets ($33 - $86) are on sale now online at LAPhil.com, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. When available, choral bench seats ($15) will be released for sale to selected Philharmonic, Colburn Celebrity Recital, and Baroque Variations performances beginning at noon on the Tuesday of the second week prior to the concert. A limited number of $10 rush tickets for seniors and full time students may be available at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office two hours prior to the performance. Valid identification is required; one ticket per person; cash only. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For all information, please call 323.850.2000.

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