Saturday, August 23 · 7:30 p.m.
Rolston Recital Hall · The Banff Centre
Adult $16, Senior and Student $13, Child $9, Arts Lover Passholders Free
Banff Centre Box Office: 1-800-413-8368 or 762-6301
Presented as part of the 2008 Banff Summer Arts Festival
Under the guidance of master conductor Jon Washburn, participants in the Banff Choral Workshop will join the Vancouver Chamber Choir, one of North America’s most celebrated choral ensembles, in a performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana on August 23 as part of the 2008 Banff Summer Arts Festival.
This new partnership re-introduces choral training to The Banff Centre, and allows passionate amateur choral singers the chance to rehearse and perform with Washburn and the Vancouver Chamber Choir in a week-long residency at The Banff Centre. The workshop was designed for singers with significant choral background who are looking to refine their skills through an intensive professional performance experience.
Carmina Burana, a 20th century piece originally composed by Orff in the 1930s, is one of a handful of landmark choral works that make up the most performed and popular in today’s concert world. In 1956, Orff devised a version for chorus, soloists, two pianos, and six percussionists. This later version highlights the music’s drama and clarity as well as the role of the chorus, making it perfect repertoire for the Banff Choral Workshop. The performance will feature Banff Centre alumni performing the piano, percussion, and soloist parts.
Jon Washburn has commissioned and premiered nearly 200 new works by Canadian, American, and European composers during his career. A member of the Order of Canada, he has conducted more than 2,300 performances by 105 Canadian composers as artistic director of the Vancouver Chamber Choir. Since its formation in 1971, the award-winning Vancouver Chamber Choir has been performing across Canada and has gained international distinction through tours to the United States, China, Hong Kong, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
