It’s a big birthday for us, and we’re celebrating all season long… with four beautiful and varied concerts, an exciting commission, two very special collaborations, and a birthday party! Please join us.
II. Celebrating Collaboration: The Book of Rounds
Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 3 pm ◊ St. Ignatius of Antioch, Manhattan
Cerddorion is thrilled to present the New York premiere of The Book of Rounds: 21 Songs of Grace. Written by lyricist Julie Flanders and composer Emil Adler (founders of the acclaimed band and recording artist October Project) and arranged by Keiji Ishiguri, this song cycle bridges pop, classical, and choral music. In the creators’ words, each original round is “a fugue of positive messages. The cyclical structure of the musical round lifts the words beyond their ordinary meanings into an enveloping and transformative experience for singer and listener alike.” Joining us in this collaborative venture are the Queens College Vocal Ensemble and two youth choruses from the Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School: Vox Nova Boys Choir and 5th Grade Choir (Emily John, Director) — 90 singers in all. Marina Belica of October Project will join as a featured soloist..
III. Celebrating Our Singers, Past and Present: Dido and Aeneas
NOTE: NEW DATES AND VENUE
Friday, March 27 at 8 pm
Saturday, March 28 at 3 pm with reception to follow
Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church
152 W. 66th Street, Manhattan
The centerpiece of our 25th anniversary season will be Purcell’s magnificent opera, Dido and Aeneas. We are delighted to be collaborating with one of our favorite artistic partners through the years: Director and choreographer Christopher Caines will create a fully staged production that will delight the eye as well as the ear—featuring guest artists from his company, Christopher Caines Dance. Some of New York’s finest early music instrumentalists will join us from the orchestra pit. And for the icing on our birthday cake: Some of the principal roles will be played by Cerddorion alumni/ae who have gone on to vibrant professional singing careers. A festive reception will follow the March 28 performance.
IV. Celebrating Our Commitment to New Music
Friday, May 29 at 8 pm ◊ St. Cecilia Church, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 31 at 3 pm ◊ St. Ignatius of Antioch, Manhattan
In 2020 there’s a birthday far more momentous than Cerddorion’s: the centennial of the 19th Amendment, recognizing women’s right to vote. We end our season of celebration with a program of music composed by and about women. We are proud to present the world premiere of a work we commissioned for the occasion: In Arise, the prominent New York composer Sidney Boquiren sets the words of some of the pioneers of women’s suffrage, both famous and lesser-known. The program will also feature the winners of Cerddorion’s eighth annual Emerging Composers Competition.
[We opened our season with…]
I. Celebrating Our Audience: A Cornucopia of Fan Favorites
Friday, November 15 at 8 pm ◊ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Sunday, November 17 at 3 pm ◊ St. Ignatius of Antioch, Manhattan
Our first performance, under our original name. After two concerts as Galatea, we learned of an instrumental ensemble with the same name… so we became Cerddorion, Welsh for “singers” or “musicians.”
Our year of celebration began with best-loved selections from Cerddorion’s entire repertoire—chosen by YOU, our cherished audience. This gorgeous program featured works by Josquin, Victoria, Monteverdi, Brahms, Britten, Poulenc, Lang, and others.
Photo: DanWrightPhotography.com