Mendelssohn Choir to perform at Carnegie Hall
June 2008
By Harriet Hiller, Hour Correspondent
Under the artistic direction and baton of Carole Ann Maxwell, the Mendelssohn
Choir of Connecticut, recognized as one of the most prestigious choir ensembles
in the state, will participate this Saturday evening in a performance of Carl
Orff's modern day choral and orchestral masterpiece, "Carmina
Burana."
It is a singular honor to have been chosen as the only American chorus to add
their 100 voices to an international chorus of 200 singers. Everyone involved
with the Mendelssohn Choir recognizes this and admits to being thrilled at the
opportunity to perform in one of best concert halls in the world.
"This is the apex for us and something we did not plan on," Maxwell
said in a recent telephone interview. "We performed 'Carmina Burana' with
the Greater Bridgeport Symphony a few months ago. Right after that, I got a
call from the organization who is putting together this Carnegie Hall concert,
Distinguished Concerts Orchestras International. They had heard about our
performance, immediately called and asked if we would be interested in doing
this concert.
"Of course I said yes. You know the old saying, 'How do you get to
Carnegie Hall? Practice. Practice. Practice.' Well, we have done that and now
we are going there," she added.
Well known and much honored for her musical achievements as a conductor,
Maxwell has prepared and led choruses throughout the United States, Canada and
Europe.
"Conducting is my passion, she said. "This Carnegie Hall concert is a
truly wonderful opportunity for our singers to perform in this monumental work.
And working with singers from Iceland gives this concert a truly global
aspect."
This performance at the historic venue will be the artistic icing on this
season's cake that began with a concert at Maxwell's home in September and went
on to include "Haydn for The Holidays with Festival Orchestra,"
"The Messiah" with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, "Carmina
Burana" with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra and concluded with
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra in May.
The Carnegie Hall concert is a gratifying professional benchmark for the unique
organization, which was formed in 1984 because students of Maxwell, the
director of choral and liturgical music for Fairfield University since 1980,
wanted to keep up their musical association with her even after their
graduation.
Kristen Record, a soprano who loves to sing, earns her living teaching physics
at Bunnell High School in Stratford. She continued to keep up her musical
relationship with Maxwell that first began in 1995 when Record was a student at
Fairfield University.
"I wanted to continue singing with Dr. Maxwell; she is a fantastic teacher
and a fantastic conductor. I like her spirit and the passion she brings. She
helps each singer reach new levels every season.
"And the hallmark of the Mendelssohn Choir," she continues, "is
the great camaraderie each member feels for the other. We enjoy singing and
being together."
Lorna Sura, another member of the Mendelssohn Choir, who, for purposes of
disclosure works at The Hour as executive assistant to the publisher, joined the
group after hearing a concert in December of 2005 and auditioned immediately.
Coming from a musical family, Lorna said she always loved to sing and learned
to play flute, piccolo and oboe in school but went on to major in accounting
with a minor in music.
To balance out her musical cravings with her life, in 1992, she began singing
with the Stratford Sister-Cities Choir, an international musical exchange
program, until she was accepted into the Mendelssohn Choir.
And, she says, she loves being part of this group.
"It may take 100 voices to make up the Mendelssohn Choir but it takes one
absolutely amazing Maestra to pull everything together," she said.
"We are always in awe of Carole Ann's talent and ability."
When asked about her reaction to singing in Carnegie Hall, Sura said,
"It's breathtaking. Exhila-rating. Saturday is going to be one
mouth-gaping experience. This is history making for us. It's
awe-inspiring."
"Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff, Gardar Cortes and Timothy Michael
Powell, conductors, with participating choruses and Timothy Michael Powers,
Mass in C Major, No. 1 ("Wedding Mass") presented by Distinguished
Concert International New York, takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14 in the
Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, 57th and 7th Avenue, New York. Tickets from
$20-$100. For information and tickets, call Carnegie Charge, (212)247-7800 or
visit www.carnegiehall.
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