DVOŘÁK´S STABAT MATER COMES TO MUSIKVEREIN, VIENNA AND DVOŘÁK HALL, PRAGUE

09.5.2014 19:30 (Pá) 
Rudolfinum - Dvořákova síň, náměstí Jana Palacha, Praha 1
TICKETS


ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK: STABAT MATER
dirigent / conductor Bruce Chamberlain
Alicia Jayourba soprano, Stanislava Jirků mezzosoprano, Kevin Hanrahan tenore, Russi Nikoff basso
University of Arizona Symphonic Choir, USA
Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Arizona, USA
Filharmonici města Prahy (The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra)


Columbia, South Carolina - Highly acclaimed and respected concert organizer, Varna International brings the celebrated religious cantata, Stabat Mater, by renowned Czech composer, Antonín Dvořák, to Vienna and Prague as part of its 2014 concert season. The performances will take place in Vienna at the Musikverein Theatre on May 6, featuring the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra of Bulgaria, and at the Dvořák Hall of Rudolfinum Theater in Prague on May 9, featuring the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. The performances will feature two choirs from The University of Arizona, The Arizona Choir and the UA Symphonic Choir and members of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus. The distinguished Dr. Bruce Chamberlain will conduct the performances. Soloists for the concerts are Alicia Jayourba, soprano, Stanislava Jirků, mezzo soprano, Russi Nikoff, tenor, and Kevin Hanrahan, bass.

VARNA INTERNATIONAL
For sixteen years, Varna International has organized international, artistically rich, and custom-tailored performance tours. The company also conducts annual music training academies and hosts the Opera Academy in various cities of Bulgaria. The mission of Varna is to produce world-class classical music performances that are both excellent and inspiring, drawing peoples and nations together through the international language of music.

As the founder, Kalin Tchonev, writes, "I am moved time and time again when I see men and women from different nationalities and cultures unite on a single platform for a single purpose: to celebrate music." 
www.varnainternational.com

STABAT MATER
The Stabat Mater tour to Vienna and Prague is one of four Varna International tours occurring this summer. Stabat Mater, Op. 58 is a 90-minute, vocal-instrumental sacred work for soli, choir and orchestra, based on the text of an old church hymn of the same name. It was first performed in 1880 in Prague.
Conductor Bruce Chamberlain says of the piece, "The Dvorak Stabat Mater is a monumental piece in the choral/orchestral repertoire.  Deeply moving, yet profoundly uplifting, the music touches everyone at the very core of their humanity.  That such beauty could be spawned by the great tragedy of the loss of three of Dvorak's children is awe-inspiring to me.  In each measure one is able to hear the heartfelt outpouring of grief combined with an unshakable faith in the goodness of God and salvation."

BRUCE CHAMBERLAIN
Chamberlain is the founding-director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Arizona School of Music. His guest conducting dates for 2013-2014 have included TSO’s annual Messiah performances in December, the Tennessee All-State Orchestra in February, an ACDA Central Division Conference in March, the Durufle Requiem with the New York Chamber Orchestra in Avery Fisher Hall in March, followed by a performance with the National Arabian Choir in Dubai, UAE, and concludes this summer with conducting the Daegu City Professional Choir in Seoul, South Korea in August. He has appeared as a guest conductor with the symphony orchestras of St. Petersburg (Russia), the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Czech Orchestra (Brno), the Budapest Chamber Orchestra, and the Ryul Chamber Orchestra in Seoul, Korea.  Under his leadership, the UA Graduate Choral Conducting program has flourished and grown in reputation to attract students from all over the United States and the world.

TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHORUS & UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SYMPHONIC CHOIR
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the UA Symphonic Choir are part of the nationally and internationally recognized University of Arizona School of Music. The Arizona Choir stands as the premier choral ensemble of the UA School of Music and features 36 graduate voice, conducting and music education students. The choir recently performed with Kronos Quartet and the Budapest Chamber Orchestra. The choir has also been featured at the regional and national conventions of American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. The Symphonic Choir features 46 UA undergraduate students and celebrates a fifty-year tradition of musical excellence.
"It is my hope that the audiences in both Vienna and Prague will be able to hear and feel the genuine care and love for this music that the students and I will endeavor to convey," says Chamberlain. "Our mission is to be Dvorak's advocate, representing his ideas and genius in every measure…grounded by a fundamental understanding of the composer's style and intent.  If we can move our audiences as we have been moved then we will have been successful."

THE CITY OF PRAGUE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (FILHARMONICI MĚSTA PRAHY)
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra was established over 60 years ago at the end of World War II. It was created to produce the film scores for Barrandov Film Studios in Prague. After the Velvet Revolution, it was fully privatized and continued to play and record music for CD albums, international films, television series and video games. Today, the orchestra is led by Nic Raine and features predominantly Czech classical and jazz musicians and has recently undertaken numerous concert tours across Europe and in Chile and Brazil.