Neighbor News
The Alchemy Ensemble performs Oct 19 in Cheshire, Oct 27 in Essex
The 24-voice Alchemy ensemble will perform Brahms' virtuosic "Neue Liebeslieder" waltzes and music by Elgar, Rossini, and others
Alchemy, the vocal chamber ensemble of the GMChorale, will offer “Soirées Musicales” on two dates in October. The program features the lively, virtuosic Neue Liebeslieder waltzes by Johannes Brahms, with additional choral music by Giacchino Rossini, Randall Thompson, Edward Elgar, and others.
Led by founding Artistic Director Joseph D’Eugenio, the 24-voice ensemble will perform on Saturday, October 19, 2019, at 7:00 pm at the First Congregational Church of Cheshire, 111 Church Drive, in Cheshire, CT. Joining Alchemy on that program is the Saecula Singers, a small, inter-generational vocal ensemble that is part of the New Haven-based Saecula Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides life-changing educational programs, performance opportunities, and scholarships for musicians of all ages
Alchemy will perform a similar program on Sunday, October 27, 2019, at 4:00pm at Essex Meadows, 30 Bokum Road, Essex, CT. Both events are free.
Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Called “Soirées Musicales,” the hour-long program showcases the versatility of the Alchemy ensemble in performances of accompanied and a capella choral music, and recalls the elegance of musical gatherings in earlier days.
“The tradition of the soirée musicale, or musical evening, has been almost forgotten in our modern world,” said D’Eugenio. “At a soirée, friends, family, and invited guests would gather to sing and play music together, often in a private drawing room or salon. Often, celebrated musicians were featured, and the quality of music-making rivaled that of the best concert halls. We hope this program will evoke that intimate, artistically inspiring experience.”
Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The featured work on these programs is the Neue Liebeslieder waltzes by Johannes Brahms, virtuosic settings of love poems for solo voices, chorus, and piano four hands (that is, two pianists playing one piano). The GMChorale’s long-time pianist Allan Conway will be joined at the keyboard by Artistic Director Joseph D’Eugenio, and members of Alchemy will perform the vocal solos.
Formed in 2016 as the first expression of the GMChorale’s “Singing for a Lifetime” outreach initiative, Alchemy is a company of 24 musicians that includes music educators, professional soloists and performers, and skilled ensemble singers and instrumentalists. The ensemble performs an annual series of concerts across Connecticut, often collaborating with choirs from the communities in which it performs, especially with youth choirs, who have an opportunity to rehearse and perform with the seasoned musicians of Alchemy and their Artistic Director, Joseph D’Eugenio.
Already, Alchemy has become known for its compelling performances and significant vocal artistry. Alchemy was invited to perform at the 2018 annual convention of the American Choral Directors Association (Connecticut Chapter), where Alchemy was the featured presenter at the President’s Concert. The ensemble was also invited to perform a series of concerts in Ithaca, New York in August, 2018, collaborating with a local music school to create a significant choral experience for young singers.
The musicians of Alchemy are also members of the 90-voice GMChorale, also under the direction of Joseph D'Eugenio; the GMChorale presents two main-stage concerts each season, often with orchestra.
More information about Alchemy’s 2018-2019 concert series is available at http://gmchorale.org/alchemy/.
EVENT DETAILS:
What: Choral concert with music by Brahms, Elgar, Thompson, and others.
Who: Alchemy, the vocal chamber ensemble of the GMChorale, and the Saecula Singers, an ensemble of the Saecula Foundation. Allan Conway and Joseph D’Eugenio will play the piano and organ, and the program will be conducted by Artistic Director Joseph D’Eugenio.
When and Where: TWO DATES, TWO LOCATIONS
Saturday, October 19, 2019, at 7:00pm at First Congregational Church, 111 Church Drive, Cheshire, CT.
A free will donation will be accepted.
Sunday, October 27, 2019, at 4:00pm at Essex Meadows, 30 Bokum Road, Essex, CT.
The concert is free; registration is required at 860-581-4660 or https://www.essexmeadows.com/e...
For more info: http://gmchorale.org/alchemy/ or gmcmedia@gmchorale.org