Cappella Romana Walks on a "Radiant Cloud" in April Following the Requiem by Mikis Theodorakis


Portland, Ore.; Seattle, Wash. — Returning from a tour to Princeton and Yale in April 2007, Cappella Romana presents "RADIANT CLOUD," in Portland and Seattle, conducted by artistic director Alexander Lingas. The program will highlight choral works by composers immersed in the Byzantine tradition, including the Requiem by Mikis Theodorakis (of Zorba the Greek fame), with a new CD release of Greek music. Portland: 8 p.m. Fri., Apr. 20, St. Mary's Cathedral, 1716 NW Davis, Portland; Seattle: 8 p.m., Sat., Apr. 21, Holy Rosary Church, 4139 42nd Ave SW, West Seattle. $25, with student/senior discounts, 800-992-8499 (TIXX), www.cappellaromana.org. Free pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. Both programs are sponsored by Dignity Memorial (www.dignitymemorial.com).

This intrepid program opens with the Easter hymn "Christos anésti " ("Christ is risen") in a bold and impressionistic setting by Alexander Lingas. Audiences will have a second chance to hear the mystical "Radiant Cloud" by Greek composer Michael Adamis (given its world premiere by Cappella in 2003) and the world premiere of his "A Woman Clothed with the Sun," with texts from the Book of Revelation. Also notable on the program: a new work by Peter Michaelides, commissioned by and for Portland's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 100th Anniversary this year and the North American premiere of a 2006 work by Greco-Albanian Sicilian composer Tonin Tarnaku, "Anástasis," whose world premiere we heard last May in the Byzantine Music Festival in Palermo, for choir singing in Greek and priests singing chant in Albanian.

The second half features a large section of the Requiem by Mikis Theodorakis, one of Greece's most beloved composers, known as much for his popular songs as his concert music. The highly dramatic and personal setting of the Greek Orthodox memorial will be bracketed by two short funeral works by the English composer Sir John Tavener: "Aionia" ("Eternal") and "Song for Athene," made instantly famous for the last ten years since its inclusion in the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.



(Posting date 03 April 2007
)

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