Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Last Supper/Santa Maria delle Grazie

Our first stop on Tour will be visiting the Last Supper fresco with Professor Masciadri and company at the beautiful Santa Maria della Grazie church


Monday, April 27, 2009

UGA 2009 Performance Tour Repertoire

It is an impressive list of repertoire that the UGA Chamber Choir will be presenting on its 2009 Performance Tour to Italy. Ember: As cliche' as this may sound, just looking at this list gives me goosebumps! Each piece has a back story that isn't necessarily known by all, but just imagine how incredible it will be for UGA to sing "Nuper Rosarum Flores" in the Florence Duomo, as this piece was composed for the consecration of the duomo!

Incantato Tours & Concerts presenta

Musica Oltre i Confini
Songs Beyond Borders
Choral concert with selected works from around the world (Italy, Europe, North and South America, Australia & Africa) and from different eras that still speak to us today.

Program to be selected from:

Nuper rosarum flores - Guillaume Dufay (c. 1397-1474)

Missa Virgo Parens Christi - Jacobus Barbireau

Kyrie (d. 1492)

Gloria

Agnus Dei

Tu es Petrus - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594)

Cantate Domino - Monteverdi

Miserere mei, Deus - Gregorio Allegri (c.1582-1652)

Madrigali: Six “Fire Songs” on Italian Renaissance Poems - Morten Lauridsen

Ov’é lass’il bel viso (b. 1943)

Quando son più lontan

Amor io sento l’alma

Io piango che’l dolore

Luci serene e chiare

Se per havervi, oimé

The Gallant Weaver - James MacMillan (b. 1959)

Jing-a-lye-a - Bruce Sled (b. 1975)

‘In remembrance’ from Requiem - Eleanor Daley (b. 1955)

Past Life Melodies - Sarah Hopkins (b. 1958)

No Musalaba Godenda - Maragoli Spiritual/arr. Arthur Kemoli

La Muerte del Angel - Astor Piazzolla/arr. Néstor Zadoff

Icarus - Ralph Towner/arr. Gary Rosen

When I Fall in Love - Victor Young/arr. Phil Azelton

Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord - Traditional Spiritual/arr. Undine Moore

Ain’a that good news! - William Dawson

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Publicity Photo Shoot!

The UGA Chamber Choir met Tuesday for a quick photo shoot with Dr. Andaya!

What a great looking group :)








Tuesday, April 21, 2009

When in Tuscany, do like the Tuscans...

... and eat at a traditional agriturismo like the Fattoria Il Poggio - the UGA Chamber Choir and their friends will dine here on Monday, June 1 after a fun-filled day themed "Under the Tuscan Sun" featuring stops in Siena and San Gimignano.

Saying Arrivederci Italy in style

Have a look of the Casanova Ristorante, the place of the UGA Chamber Choir tours farewell dinner.
Let us know what you think.

Monday, April 20, 2009

About the UGA Chamber Choir

The University of Georgia Chamber Choir is a select touring ensemble of members from all UGA choirs including the Concert Choir, University Chorus,Women's Glee Club, Men's Glee Club, the African-American Choral Ensemble,Classic City Jazz, and Collegium Musicum. The ensemble performs literature of all style periods – from early, classical, and contemporary music to spirituals and jazz.

The Chamber Choir is formed biennially and has toured internationally since 2005, when the group went to England and Scotland. There, they were featured at the Dornoch Choral Festival and worked with distinguished conductor Simon Carrington. The choir also performed in Christ Church and Keble Colleges in Oxford, in York Minster, at Paisley Abbey in Glasgow, and in Stirling.

In 2007, the Chamber Choir toured Germany and Austria. Performances included the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin, the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig, the Salzburger Dom in Salzburg, Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, as well as churches in Mödling and Munich.

The current Chamber Choir consists of 24 voices including music and non-music majors from various courses of study at the University. The singers look forward to touring Italy in 2009, where they will be featured at the Festival Ultrapadum in Pavia and perform in Alessandria, the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, the Duomo in Florence, as well as the Basilica of St. Peter and the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

Excitement stirring in the hearts of the UGA Choir members

It's completely understandable to be excited about singing overseas, especially if it's for the first time. I, Ember at Incantato Tours, a former student in the University of Arkansas, Schola Cantorum was overwhelmed the first time I sang with my choir in Italy. The venue, the acoustics, the music, and the local audience overwhelmed me. I think I cried the entire first concert! Here are a few things that your fellow mates had to say about getting ready to go to Italy:

“I am so excited to have the opportunity to sing in some of Italy's beautiful churches, and I'm sure this will make my first trip to Europe even more memorable.” –Christina Esposito

"This will be my first time in Europe and I feel honored to be singing in some of the most beautiful places in the world.” –Morgan Roberts

"I'm so grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" –Stephanie Post

"This trip truly is a chance of a lifetime! I cannot wait to not only get to visit, but get to sing in some of the most magnificent venues in the world! I know this trip will be life-changing and I cannot wait to experience Italy's amazing culture to the fullest!" –Katie Sorrels

"This summer will be my first time to Europe, and I can't wait to sing in some of the beautiful, timeless churches.” –David Okun

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

About the Private Vatican Visit & Recital in the Sistine Chapel

The Vatican Museums are indisputably one of the finest collections of art in the world. Over the centuries, Papal patrons have commissioned renowned works such as the magnificent frescoes of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, and those by Raphael in his stanze. The museums also host some of the most important sculptures from the ancient world, such as the Laocoon and the Apollo Belvedere. Incantato Tours is thrilled to offer the UGA Chamber Choir and friends the opportunity to see these works as they were originally viewed and contemplated by the Popes who created the Museums. A private after-hours visit during your 2009 Incantato Performance Tour to Italy is truly a once in a lifetime experience, a chance to have this astounding collection to yourself and fellow tour members for two hours.

Incantato's private visit to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel will be led by a specialized docent/expert guide and is just open to members of your tour. We also provide headsets to everyone for a truly individual experience. This is an exceptional opportunity for an intimate visit and lecture on the Vatican and its impressive art collection without the press and chaos of the crowds. Last but not least, the choir has been granted permission to give a recital in the Sistine Chapel which is a an unforgettable experience - both for the singers and the audience.

Please note that not all galleries will be accessible to us during this after hours visit. The Pinacoteca and Egyptian collections are not available for viewing after closing hours. The opportunity to view the Belvedere Courtyard is also dependent on the route the Vatican guards allow us to take. We normally spend a significant amount of time (35-40 minutes) inside the Sistine Chapel and divide the rest of our time between the Gallery of Maps, Tapestry Gallery, and Raphael Rooms, including other collections as time and security permits.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

UGA Chamber Choir Tour Hotel Updates

Dear Travelers,
please find below an updated hotel listing for the UGA Chamber Choir Tour to Bella Italia. Dr. Andaya confirmed that you prefer staying in Rome rather than in the Castelli Region and we are glad we could make that work for you.
As the group is now over 30 guests, we also managed to negotiate a better deal at an even nicer hotel that I had the pleasure of inspecting myself on the last trip to Pavia and hope you agree.
We will be posting an updated itinerary next week to reflect the changes we were asked to make on your group's behalf and to accommodate the concert in Alessandria on May 29 now.

SALICE TERME
Hotel Clementi

VENICE
Hotel Albatros

MONTECATINI TERME
Hotel Francia & Quirinale

ROME
Hotel Portamaggiore