Annapolis Chorale

Under music director J. Ernest Green, the Annapolis Chorale and the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra presented a transcendent program of joyous masterpieces titled "Praise and Majesty" to open their 38th season. Green delivered a pre-concert lecture, accompanied by solo violinist Natasha Korsakova. Promising "an evening of beautiful music," Green shared what inspired him to put together a program that featured two musical giants: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his "Overture to Don Giovanni," plus religious anthems "Laudate Dominum" and "Ave verum corpus," combined with Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto and "How Lovely are Your Dwellings " from his German Requiem.

Annapolis became a major cultural metropolis this month, thanks to the presentation of two musical masterworks — one by a major 19th-century symphony composer, the other by a major 19th-century opera composer. Both works, which premiered within 20 years of each other, focus on the meaning of life and death. At the U.S. Naval Academy's Alumni Hall on April 19, the Distinguished Artists Series closed with the 39th annual Spring Oratorio. The presentation of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 featured Aaron Smith conducting the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Naval Academy men's and women's glee clubs, the Goucher College Chorus, and soloists.

For more than a century, Carnegie Hall, more than any other concert venue in America, has signaled that an artist has arrived.That's why the news about the Annapolis Chorale's invitation to perform at Carnegie next year is worth celebrating."

Music director J. Ernest Green began another season of extraordinary music-making with Live Arts Maryland's mid-September production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore," featuring the Annapolis Chorale, Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and soloists at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. For this lively 2011-2012 season opener, Green was assisted by stage director Catrin Davies, who played Maria in last season's "The Sound of Music" and here displayed another talent by keeping the high-seas comic action swirling smoothly.

I think, generally, there is nothing nicer than a cooperative effort that works. Communicating feelings, objectives and goals can be hard, but it is worth while, especially when the outcome works to the benefit of all involved.These thoughts were triggered by the announcement of a cooperative effort by Reynolds Tavern and the Bowie Brass Quintet to benefit the Annapolis Chorale.The quintet will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at St. Anne's Church on Church Circle in Annapolis. A pre-program dinner will be served at historic Reynolds Tavern.

Annapolis Chorale music director J. Ernest Green closed the group's classical music season last weekend on a triumphant note with two performances of Joseph Haydn's "The Creation." Haydn's 1798 oratorio — scored for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, chorus and orchestra — tells the story of the six days of creation. During the chorale's performance, it was given a powerful visual dimension through projected Hubble telescope images of Earth. Haydn and Hubble became a harmonious pairing, along with Renaissance masters Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, whose depictions of the creation of man joined hundreds of photos illustrating the infinite variety of human beauty.

The Annapolis Chorale seems to know few limits.The chorus, directed by J. Ernest Green, stretched beyond the usual classical repertoire Friday and Saturday nights to sing the music of George Gershwin and Duke Ellington, joined by the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and jazz artists Ethel Ennis and Stef Scaggiari. They made wonderful music together.When the first notes of Gershwin's "They Can't Take That Away from Me" sounded, my reaction was "wow!" The chorale, augmented by the string section of the chamber orchestra, had a full and joyous sound.

The Annapolis Chorale, the area's premier vocal ensemble, has announced the details of its 1995-1996 season.Under the baton of conductor J. Ernest Green, the Chorale, Chamber Chorus, and their affiliated Annapolis Chamber Orchestra will offer a diverse repertoire stretching from Handel's "Messiah" to the "Liverpool Oratorio," the crossover work crafted by former Beatle Paul McCartney."

Forty-five members of the Annapolis Chorale scaled a musical Mount Everest Tuesday night.They sang through Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" as part of the Chorale's "Summer Sing" series at the Great Hall on the campus of St. John College for the first time.The sprawling, complex, altogether extraordinary "solemn mass" that absorbed the deaf, unhappy composer for four years late in his life won't be on a chorale program until May. But it is the toughest choral work there is."Gather your intestinal fortitude together," conductor Ernest Green told his troops with a smile.

The Annapolis Chorale's annual "Celebration of Christmas" at Maryland Hall is always a toughie to review in artistic terms because, let's face it, not all that much happens artistically.Barring an act of God, a chorus isn't about to stumble over "Jingle Bells" and "Good King Wenceslas", nor is the same accompanying orchestra going to do itself injury by falling to the ice during Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride".It is enough to say that much lovely seasonal music was nicely rendered by conductor Ernest Green, his singers and players, and particularly by the newly formed Annapolis Chorale Youth Chorus.

Under music director J. Ernest Green, the Annapolis Chorale and the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra presented a transcendent program of joyous masterpieces titled "Praise and Majesty" to open their 38th season. Green delivered a pre-concert lecture, accompanied by solo violinist Natasha Korsakova. Promising "an evening of beautiful music," Green shared what inspired him to put together a program that featured two musical giants: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his "Overture to Don Giovanni," plus religious anthems "Laudate Dominum" and "Ave verum corpus," combined with Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto and "How Lovely are Your Dwellings " from his German Requiem.

Three regional concert series are gearing up for their 2010-2011 season. South County Concert Association First up is the South County Concert Association, which opens its 35th season Sept. 21 with "The Great American Songbook," which is a celebration of Broadway productions. On Oct. 29, Frank Sinatra is represented as Steve Lippia offers his "Simply Sinatra" tribute concert. Next up is a special "Celebration of Christmas" concert by the Annapolis Chorale on Dec. 11. New Hampshire's "Ambassadors to the World," Rick and Ron Shaw, take the stage Jan. 14 with a blend of traditional, contemporary and original songs interspersed with humorous tales.

Annapolis Chorale music director J. Ernest Green closed the group's classical music season last weekend on a triumphant note with two performances of Joseph Haydn's "The Creation." Haydn's 1798 oratorio — scored for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, chorus and orchestra — tells the story of the six days of creation. During the chorale's performance, it was given a powerful visual dimension through projected Hubble telescope images of Earth. Haydn and Hubble became a harmonious pairing, along with Renaissance masters Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, whose depictions of the creation of man joined hundreds of photos illustrating the infinite variety of human beauty.

L ive Arts Maryland delivered with gusto last weekend two performances of "Oklahoma!" that were undamaged by the delay caused by winter storms. Richard Rodgers' music and Oscar Hammerstein's poetic lyrics remain fresh and undimmed by time, gaining additional luster under the direction of J. Ernest Green. The show also featured the Annapolis Chorale, Annapolis Chamber Orchestra, nine stellar soloists, the Annapolis Youth Chorus, and a bright dance troupe from Stage Workz. "Oklahoma!"

Today Handel's "Messiah" The Annapolis Chorale and Annapolis Chamber Orchestra present Handel's "Messiah" at 3 p.m. at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 199 Duke of Gloucester St. in Annapolis. Tickets are $12-$37. Call 410-280-5640 for more information. "The Nutcracker" The Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents Tchaikovsky's holiday classic at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St. in Annapolis. For tickets and more information, call 410-280-5640 or go to mdhallarts.

Admired for his prodigious programming skills, Annapolis Chorale and Chamber Orchestra music director J. Ernest Green ratcheted these talents up several notches for the "Musical Fireworks" classical concert recently. At Green's pre-concert lecture, he said the program might be "over the top in abundance of big choral sounds," which included 19th-century Czech composer Anton Dvorak's celebratory Latin hymn, contemporary English composer John Rutter's "Gloria" and two major grand opera choruses.

The Annapolis Chorale's 2009-2010 season will feature masterworks, Broadway classics, "Noteworthy Encounters" to discover what is behind two classics and the annual Christmas concerts, plus three "Messiah" performances. This is the 37th season and the second under Live Arts Maryland, the chorale's presenting and producing arm. The county's largest performance group has grown to the 180-voice Annapolis Chorale, the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra, the 25-member Annapolis Chamber Chorus, the Annapolis Youth Chorus and a group of superb soloists that includes baritone Shouvik Mondle, soprano Fatinah Tilfah, soprano Carolene Winter and tenor Tom Magette.