The San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards for 2021-22 were just announced and Pacific Chorale has received 2 of the coveted honors for:
© Christian Amonson/Arts Laureate
Pacific Chorale was on comfortably contemporary ground for this March 2022 program, which combined a modernist masterpiece, Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Chorus, with a selection of shorter works by living composers. The Orange County ensemble under Artistic Director Robert Istad has a penchant for new music, and you took note, voting the choir to the top spot for “Best New Music Performance” as well.
Learn more about the program “Songs of the Soul.”
Tarik O’Regan © Frances Marshall Photography
Long relationships with composers pay off. Tarik O’Regan, Pacific Chorale’s former composer-in-residence, wrote The Stillness Chained for the ensemble back in 2020, and the chorus finally gave the premiere as part of its first program post-pandemic in October 2021.
Thank you to all who voted for us! See the full list of winners on SF Classical Voice here.
Pacific Chorale closed it’s 54th season “A Celebration of the Voice” with a thrilling and emotional performance in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California on May 7, 2022.
All photos © Doug Gifford Photography
DOWNLOAD PHOTOS HERE: https://tinyurl.com/PCMay7photos
Press Contact: Libby Huebner, libbyhuebner562@gmail.com, 562.799.6055
Saturday, May 7, 2022, 5:00 pm
at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
Ticketholders Required to Show Proof of Vaccination and
Wear Masks Inside Venues
COSTA MESA, CA (March 14, 2022) – The remarkable stylistic range and exceptional musical artistry of the Grammy-nominated Pacific Chorale, led by Artistic Director Robert Istad, will be on full display in its season finale on Saturday, May 7, 2022, 5:00 pm, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. Istad conducts the choir’s first-ever performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ masterwork Dona Nobis Pacem, a sublime setting of Walt Whitman’s poetry, with renowned guest artists soprano Deanna Breiwick, a “vocal trapeze artist” hailed for her “sweet sound and floating high notes” (The New York Times), and Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone Dashon Burton, who delivers “the kind of top-shelf performance that has sealed his reputation as one of today’s most compelling performers” (The Boston Globe). Pacific Symphony joins the chorus for the eclectic program as well, which opens with the world premiere of The Quickening, a new choral fanfare by Grammy-nominated former Pacific Chorale Composer-in-Residence Tarik O’Regan, and also showcases the West Coast premiere of Frank Ticheli’s Until Forever Fades Away, a poetic meditation on the elusive nature of time. Other works include Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw’s playful Music in Common Time for choir and orchestra and Jake Runestad’s exuberant setting of Whitman’s “Proud Music of the Storm,” evoking the spirit of adventure.
“Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem is an extraordinary work that pleads with us to consider choosing peaceful resolutions to conflicts,” says Istad. “Filled with haunting modal melodies amidst brilliant orchestrations, the work weaves anti-war poetry by Walt Whitman with Biblical references to peace-making, creating a narrative that is both extremely moving and profound. I’ve paired it with works by four other composers with whom I feel a deep connection.”
O’Regan, a musical “chameleon” with “shifting styles” (Texas Classical Review), is collaborating on his new choral-orchestral fanfare for Pacific Chorale with Orange County-based poet and activist Marcus Omari to create a work brimming with energy and power. Omari is a critically acclaimed purveyor of verse, six-time National Speech and Debate Award winner and founding member of the San Diego Slam Poetry Team.
Shaw – hailed as a “classical sensation” (The Guardian) for whom the “voice becomes a visceral embodiment of shape and texture” (New York Times) – at age 30 became the youngest-ever winner of the Pulitzer Prize for music. Music in Common Time, her imaginative post-minimalist work without text, explores the variety of sounds the human voice can create.
Ticheli’s vibrant and thought-provoking Until Forever Fades Away includes both text and music by the “optimistic and thoughtful” (Los Angeles Times) composer, who is also a composition professor at USC’s Thornton School of Music, and a long-time collaborator with Pacific Chorale.
Istad states, “Featuring on our season finale Jake Runestad’s Proud Music of the Storm, which is cinematic in scope and deeply emotional, is especially meaningful to me because we both grew up in the same northern Illinois town of Rockford.” Proclaimed a “choral rockstar” (American Public Media), Runestad is one of the most frequently performed and commissioned composers of choral music in the world, having “a particular knack for marrying powerful music to texts that speak to some of the most pressing and moving issues of our time” (Star Tribune).
Directly following the concert, Pacific Chorale will hold its annual gala, this year themed “A Celebration of the Voice” and honoring Pacific Chorale singer and philanthropist, Lenora Meister with the Entrepreneur of the Arts Award, and Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair with the Lifetime Achievement for Artistic Excellence, in honor of his three decades of artistic collaboration with the Chorale. All proceeds from the Gala will benefit the Chorale’s artistic and educational programming.
Pacific Chorale’s 2021-22 Season is made possible by generous support from Platinum Season Sponsor Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons, Silver Season Sponsor Charles and Ling Zhang, and Silver Season Corporate Sponsor Salt-Away Products.
Single tickets for “Dona Nobis Pacem” range from $25-$135. The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Audience members must show proof of vaccination and wear masks inside the venue (COVID protocols detailed below). For tickets and information, visit www.pacificchorale.org or call 714-662-2345. For tickets and information about the Pacific Chorale Gala, visit www.pacificchorale.org/gala.
ROBERT ISTAD, who “fashions fluent and sumptuous readings” (Voice of OC) with his “phenomenal” artistry (Los Angeles Times), was appointed Pacific Chorale’s Artistic Director in 2017. Under his leadership, the chorus continues to expand its reputation for excellence for delivering fresh, thought-provoking interpretations of beloved masterworks, rarely performed gems and newly commissioned pieces. His artistic impact can be heard on two recent recordings featuring Pacific Chorale: “Mahler’s Eighth Symphony” with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel on Deutsche Grammophon (2021), for which he prepared the chorus, and “All Things Common: The Music of Tarik O’Regan,” which he conducted, on Yarlung Records (2020). Istad has also prepared choruses for such renowned conductors as Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Williams, John Mauceri, Keith Lockhart, Nicholas McGegan, Vasilly Sinaisky, Sir Andrew Davis, Bramwell Tovey, Carl St.Clair, Eugene Kohn, Giancarlo Guerrero, Marin Alsop, George Fenton, and Robert Moody. He regularly conducts and collaborates with Pacific Symphony, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, Sony Classical Records, Yarlung Records, Berkshire Choral International, and Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. An esteemed educator, Istad is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Fullerton, where he was recognized as CSUF’s 2016 Outstanding Professor of the Year. He conducts the University Singers and manages a large graduate conducting program, in addition to teaching courses on conducting and performance practice. Istad, who is on the Executive Board of Directors of Chorus America and serves as Dean of Chorus America’s Conducting Academy, is in demand as guest conductor, lecturer, and clinician.
PACIFIC CHORALE, an Orange County “treasure” with a “fresh viewpoint” that “can sing anything you put in front of it, with polish, poise and tonal splendor” (Orange County Register) has “risen to national prominence” (Los Angeles Times) since its inception in 1968. Hailed for delivering “thrilling entertainment” (Voice of OC), the resident choir at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is noted for its artistic innovation and commitment to expanding the choral repertoire. It has given world, U.S., and West Coast premieres of more than 35 works, including numerous commissions, by such lauded composers as John Adams, Jake Heggie, James Hopkins, David Lang, Morten Lauridsen, Ravel, Tarik O’Regan, Karen Thomas, Frank Ticheli, András Gábor Virágh, and Eric Whitacre. In addition to presenting its own concert series each season, Pacific Chorale enjoys a long-standing partnership with Pacific Symphony, with whom the choir made its highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut in 2018. The chorus also regularly appears with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, earning two 2022 Grammy Award nominations – Best Choral Performance and Best Engineered Album, Classical – for its contribution to the live classical recording of “Mahler: Symphony No. 8, ‘Symphony of A Thousand,’” conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, featuring Leah Crocetto, Mihoko Fujimura, Ryan McKinny, Erin Morley, Tamara Mumford, Simon O’Neill, Morris Robinson and Tamara Wilson; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, Los Angeles Master Chorale, National Children’s Chorus and Pacific Chorale. The choir has performed with such leading orchestras as the Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, and Musica Angelica, among others. Pacific Chorale has garnered international acclaim as well, having toured extensively to more than 19 countries in Europe, South America, and Asia, and through collaborations with the London Symphony, Munich Symphony, L’Orchestre Lamoureux and L’Orchestre de St-Louis-en-l’Île of Paris, National Orchestra of Belgium, China National Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Estonian National Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Argentina, among others. Deeply committed to making choral music accessible to people of all ages, the organization, which has a discography of 14 self-produced recordings and an extensive collection of exceptional free digital offerings, places a significant emphasis on choral music education, providing after-school vocal programs for elementary school students, a choral summer camp for high school students, and an annual community-wide singing event at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. www.pacificchorale.org
# # #
WHAT:
Pacific Chorale Presents
Dona Nobis Pacem
Robert Istad, conductor
Pacific Chorale
Deanna Breiwick, soprano
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
Pacific Symphony
PROGRAM:
Tarik O’REGAN The Quickening (World Premiere)
Caroline SHAW Music in Common Time
Frank TICHELI Until Forever Fades Away (West Coast Premiere)
Jake RUNESTAD Proud Music of the Storm
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Dona Nobis Pacem
WHEN:
Saturday, May 7 2022, 5:00 pm
WHERE:
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Hall
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
TICKETS/INFORMATION:
$25 – $135
www.pacificchorale.org
714-662-2345
COVID PROTOCOLS
Pacific Chorale continues to make the health and safety of its patrons, artists and community its top priority and has adopted the requirement that all audience members attending indoor performances be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In order to be considered fully vaccinated, patrons must confirm that at least 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose of FDA or WHO authorized double-dose vaccines or that at least 14 days have passed since receiving the sole dose of FDA or WHO authorized single-dose vaccines. Audience members may display proof of vaccine on a smartphone or by showing a physical copy of their vaccination card or official vaccination record. Children under 12 and those who are unvaccinated due to a medical or religious reason must provide proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than 48 hours prior to attending. Rapid or antigen tests will not be accepted. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear masks while inside the concert venue. These safety protocols will be re-assessed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted as public health circumstances evolve. The Chorale is closely monitoring industry and government guidance regarding the COVID-19 virus, including information supplied by the State of California, California Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Orange County Department of Public Health. For information on Pacific Chorale’s most current health and safety protocols, please visit https://www.pacificchorale.org/covid-returning-to-live-performances/.
Artists, date, program and venue subject to change
# # #
“The return to the Segerstrom Concert Hall platform of the Pacific Chorale under their Artistic Director Robert Istad could not have been more warmly welcomed, and their performance of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil Op. 37 that was the main item, filling the second half (and with the bass Ryan Thomas Antal in the first, mezzo-soprano I-Chin Betty Feinblatt in the second, and tenor Nicholas Preston in the fourth and fifth of the work’s 15 movements), showed the Chorale to have lost none of its security of pitch, clarity of articulation, and control of dynamic and rhythmic nuance, despite the long Covid-enforced absence.”
“(Tarik O’Regan’s The Stillness in Chains’) soft bitonal clashes and slowly shifting harmonies were delivered with devoted poise and accuracy by the Chorale, the sense of unresolved, poignant ache reminiscent of the work of Morten Lauridsen.”
“The concert program notes by Dr John Koegel of CSU Fullerton (are) a model of their kind”
Enjoy David Brown’s LA Opus review in it’s entirety:
David Brown, LA Opus, November 6, 2021
https://www.laopus.com/2021/11/choral-contemplations-and-visions-at.html
Press Contact:
Libby Huebner, libbyhuebner562@gmail.com, 562.799.6055
Ticketholders Required to Show Proof of Vaccination and Wear Masks Inside Venues
COSTA MESA, CA (August 26, 2021) – Pacific Chorale Artistic Director Robert Istad and Andrew Brown, President & CEO, today announced the chorus’ 2021-2022 Season featuring its return to in-person performances at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, beginning in October, with sweeping programming that builds upon its trailblazing legacy of championing contemporary composers. The “A-list ensemble” (Los Angeles Times) acclaimed for its “polish, poise and tonal splendor” (Orange County Register) presents five transformative programs, bookending the 54th season with two world premieres by Grammy-nominated former Composer-in-Residence Tarik O’Regan, the first, The Stillness Chained, a Pacific Chorale commission set to the poetry of Yone Noguchi.
Each of the five programs includes a range of compelling works by some of the most groundbreaking composers of our time, including the West Coast premieres of Damien Geter’s profound Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow, a message of hope refracted through the lens of Bach’s musical legacy interwoven with African-American spirituals, featuring celebrated soprano Aundi Marie Moore and Pacific Symphony Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty; and Frank Ticheli’s Until Forever Fades Away, a poetic meditation on the elusive nature of time.
Among other vibrant contemporary choral works, Istad conducts Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw’s and the swallow, a setting of Psalm 84 inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis, and her playful Music in Common Time for choir and orchestra; Paul Fowler’s wordless, hypnotic Calling; and Edie Hill’s poignant We Bloomed in Spring, set to the words of St. Teresa of Avila. Pacific Chorale also performs leading Estonian composer Galina Grigorjeva’s On Leaving, a contemplation on the soul’s release from the mortal body; Spiritus Mundi, Dale Trumbore’s hymn of gratitude for the fruits of the earth; Jake Runestad’s exuberant setting of Walt Whitman’s Proud Music of the Storm; and South Korean composer Hyo-Won Woo’s dramatic Me-Na-Ri (Space Music), a work for three choirs and percussion that stretches the boundaries of choral music.
Adding further breadth to the season are three iconic 20th century choral masterworks: Rachmaninoff’s evocative a cappella Vespers (All Night Vigil), Op. 37; Martin’s Mass for Double Choir, a tour-de-force laced with vocal fireworks; and the choir’s first-ever performance of Vaughan Williams’ poignant Dona Nobis Pacem, giving voice to the plea, “Grant us peace,” and featuring renowned guest artists soprano Liv Redpath and Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone Dashon Burton.
Pacific Chorale’s signature holiday programming returns with two performances each of “Carols by Candlelight” – spotlighting timeless repertoire from the Renaissance and beyond, including works by contemporary British composers Bob Chilcott, Patrick Hawes, Cecilia McDowall, and Will Todd – and the beloved family favorite “Tis the Season!,” chock-full of festive carols, seasonal delights, and even a visit from Santa Claus. This year, “Tis the Season!” will conclude with the first live performance of Emmy Award-winning composer Gary Fry’s new arrangement of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” which Pacific Chorale commissioned and premiered during last season’s virtual holiday concert.
“As Pacific Chorale resumes singing in person, I wanted to select works that both recognize the challenges we have all faced in recent times and reflect the diverse repertoire that our singers love to perform and our audiences have come to expect,” says Istad. “Composers creating artistic statements right now are deeply connected to our current human experience. I sincerely hope their messages resonate with our singers and audiences in an immediate, powerful way. At its core, Pacific Chorale exists to unite people through choral music, so returning to live performances enhanced by the sparkling acoustics of Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall will, no doubt, be an incredibly joyful experience for all of us on the stage and in the theater.”
“We are extremely grateful to the Pacific Chorale’s loyal patrons, vital community partners and committed donors for helping the organization transition through the extended closure brought about by the global pandemic,” says Brown. “While we made it a top priority to remain artistically connected to our patrons during this challenging time by pivoting to create innovative, digital programming, there is nothing like the visceral aspect of a live performance. We are thrilled to be able to, once again, welcome patrons back inside the concert hall and showcase the Pacific Chorale’s artistry in a concert setting.”
In addition to presenting its own concert series, the Chorale makes guest appearances on five Pacific Symphony programs this season. They include Handel’s Messiah, led by Robert Moody (December 5, 2021), and four presentations under the baton of Carl St.Clair – A Lunar New Year program (February 5, 2022), Cathedrals of Sounds (February 17-19, 2022), Verdi’s Otello (April 7,9,12, 2022), and Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor (May 19-22, 2022).
Pacific Chorale continues to make the health and safety of its patrons, artists and community its top priority and has adopted the requirement that all audience members attending indoor performances be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In order to be considered fully vaccinated, patrons must confirm that at least 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose of FDA or WHO authorized double-dose vaccines or that at least 14 days have passed since receiving the sole dose of FDA or WHO authorized single-dose vaccines. Audience members may display proof of vaccine on a smartphone or by showing a physical copy of their vaccination card or official vaccination record. Children under 12 and those who are unvaccinated due to a medical or religious reason must provide proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than 48 hours prior to attending. Rapid or antigen tests will not be accepted. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear masks while inside the concert venue. These safety protocols will be re-assessed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted as public health circumstances evolve. The Chorale is closely monitoring industry and government guidance regarding the COVID-19 virus, including information supplied by the State of California, California Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Orange County Department of Public Health. For information on Pacific Chorale’s most current health and safety protocols, please visit https://www.pacificchorale.org/covid-returning-to-live-performances/.
Season tickets are available in packages of 3 to 5 concerts, ranging in price from $67 to $469. Single tickets to individual performances will go on sale on Tuesday, September 7. All Pacific Chorale concerts are presented in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA, except for “Carols by Candlelight” and “Songs of the Soul,” which are presented in Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach, CA. For tickets and information, visit www.pacificchorale.org or call 714-662-2345.
ROBERT ISTAD, who “fashions fluent and sumptuous readings” (Voice of OC) with his “phenomenal” artistry (Los Angeles Times), was appointed Pacific Chorale’s Artistic Director in 2017. Under his leadership, the chorus continues to expand its reputation for excellence for delivering fresh, thought-provoking interpretations of beloved masterworks, rarely performed gems and newly commissioned pieces. His artistic impact can be heard on two recent recordings featuring Pacific Chorale: “Mahler’s Eighth Symphony” with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel on Deutsche Grammophon (2021), for which he prepared the chorus, and “Ecstasies Above: The Music of Tarik O’Regan,” which he conducted, on Yarlung Records (2020). Istad has also prepared choruses for such renowned conductors as Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Williams, John Mauceri, Keith Lockhart, Nicholas McGegan, Vasilly Sinaisky, Sir Andrew Davis, Bramwell Tovey, Carl St.Clair, Eugene Kohn, Giancarlo Guerrero, Marin Alsop, George Fenton, and Robert Moody. He regularly conducts and collaborates with Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, Sony Classical Records, Yarlung Records, Berkshire Choral International, and Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. An esteemed educator, Istad is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Fullerton, where he was recognized as CSUF’s 2016 Outstanding Professor of the Year. He conducts the University Singers and manages a large graduate conducting program, in addition to teaching courses on conducting and performance practice. Istad, who is on the Executive Board of Directors of Chorus America and serves as Dean of Chorus America’s Conducting Academy, is in demand as guest conductor, lecturer, and clinician.
PACIFIC CHORALE, an Orange County “treasure” with a “fresh viewpoint” that “can sing anything you put in front of it, with polish, poise and tonal splendor” (Orange County Register) has “risen to national prominence” (Los Angeles Times) since its inception in 1968. Hailed for delivering “thrilling entertainment” (Voice of OC), the resident choir at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is noted for its artistic innovation and commitment to expanding the choral repertoire. It has given world, U.S., and West Coast premieres of more than 35 works, including numerous commissions, by such lauded composers as John Adams, Jake Heggie, James Hopkins, David Lang, Morten Lauridsen, Ravel, Tarik O’Regan, Karen Thomas, Frank Ticheli, András Gábor Virágh, and Eric Whitacre. In addition to presenting its own concert series each season, Pacific Chorale enjoys a long-standing partnership with Pacific Symphony, with whom the choir made its highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut in 2018. The chorus also regularly appears with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has performed with such leading orchestras as the Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, and Musica Angelica, among others. Pacific Chorale has garnered international acclaim as well, having toured extensively to more than 19 countries in Europe, South America, and Asia, and through collaborations with the London Symphony, Munich Symphony, L’Orchestre Lamoureux and L’Orchestre de St-Louis-en-l’Île of Paris, National Orchestra of Belgium, China National Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Estonian National Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Argentina, among others. Deeply committed to making choral music accessible to people of all ages, the organization, which has a discography of 14 self-produced recordings and an extensive collection of exceptional free digital offerings, places a significant emphasis on choral music education, providing after-school vocal programs for elementary school students, a choral summer camp for high school students, and an annual community-wide singing event at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. www.pacificchorale.org
# # #
PACIFIC CHORALE
ROBERT ISTAD, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
2021-2022 SEASON
CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING
Rachmaninoff Vespers
Saturday, October 30, 2021 – 7:00 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Robert Istad, conductor
Pacific Chorale
Aundi Marie Moore, soprano
Warren Hagerty, cello
| Hyo-Won WOO | Me-Na-Ri (Space Music) |
| Tarik O’REGAN | The Stillness Chained (World Premiere) |
| Damien GETER | Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow (West Coast Premiere) |
| RACHMANINOFF | Vespers (All Night Vigil), Op. 37 |
Carols by Candlelight
Saturday, December 4, 2021 – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 – 8:00 p.m.
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach
Robert Istad, conductor
Pacific Chorale
Featuring timeless seasonal repertoire from the Renaissance and beyond
| NILES / Arr. Leonard Enns | I Wonder as I Wander |
| Will TODD | The Call of Wisdom |
| Arr. Mack Wilberg & Peter Stevens | Ding! Dong! Merrily on High |
| Arr. John Rutter | O Come, O Come, Emmanuel |
| Arr. Reginald Jacques | In Dulci Jubilo |
| DERING / ed. Richard Lyne | Quem vidistis, pastores? |
| Arr. Sarah Quartel | This Endris Night |
| Arr. John Rutter | The Holly and the Ivy |
| HOWELLS | “Magnificat” from Collegium Regale |
| Arr. David Willcocks | God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen |
| Cecilia MCDOWALL | Lo He slumbers in his manger |
| GRUBER / Arr. Bob Chilcott | Silent Night |
| Patrick HAWES | Reflexionem |
| VAUGHAN WILLIAMS | Excerpts from Fantasia on Christmas Carols |
| Bob CHILCOTT | Dona Nobis Pacem |
Tis the Season!
Sunday, December 19, 2021 – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, December 20, 2021 – 7:30 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
Robert Istad, conductor
Pacific Chorale
Members of Pacific Symphony
A family-friendly program replete with festive carols, holiday favorites and a visit from Santa Claus
| Gary FRY | O Come, O Come, Emmanuel |
| Arr. David Willcocks | O Come, All Ye Faithful |
| Bob CHILCOTT | Angel Voices Ever Singing |
| Arr. Jackson Berkey | God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
| Morten LAURIDSEN | O Magnum Mysterium |
| Arr. Will Todd | Once in Royal David’s City |
| Ji-Hoon PARK | Gloria from “Lightning Bug” Mass |
| Arr. Mack Wilberg | Joy to the World |
| HERMAN / Arr. Jerry Rubino | We Need a Little Christmas |
| José FELICIANO /Arr. Paul Langford | Feliz Navidad |
| STYNE & CAHN /Arr. Teena Chinn & Marc Riley | The Christmas Waltz |
| BERLIN / Arr. Marc Riley & Mac Huff | White Christmas |
| Mariah CAREY & Walter AFANASIEFF / Arr. Mac Huff & Marc Riley | All I Want for Christmas Is You |
| Arr. David Willcocks | Jingle, Bells |
| Rosephanye POWELL | Christmas Memories from “Christmas Give” |
| BIEBL | Ave Maria |
| GRUBER / Arr. Dan Forrest | Silent Night |
| Arr. Gary Fry | We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
Songs of the Soul
Saturday, March 19, 2022 – 8:00 p.m.
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach
Robert Istad, conductor
Pacific Chorale
| Paul FOWLER | Calling |
| Edie HILL | We Bloomed in Spring |
| Galina GRIGORJEVA | On Leaving |
| Caroline SHAW | and the swallow |
| Dale TRUMBORE | Spiritus Mundi |
| MARTIN | Mass for Double Choir |
Dona Nobis Pacem
Saturday, May 7, 2021 – 5:00 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
Robert Istad, conductor
Pacific Chorale
Liv Redpath, soprano
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
Pacific Symphony
| Tarik O’REGAN | World Premiere |
| Caroline SHAW | Music in Common Time |
| Frank TICHELI | Until Forever Fades Away (West Coast Premiere) |
| Jake RUNESTAD | Proud Music of the Storm |
| VAUGHAN WILLIAMS | Dona Nobis Pacem |
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach
2100 Mar Vista Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Season subscriptions available; single tickets go on sale September 7
www.pacificchorale.org
714-662-2345
Artists, dates, programs and venues subject to change
# # #
All Things Common has been garnering strong reviews since its release, culminating in the announcement that the prestigious audiophile outlet Native DSD Music has named it one of their Top 10 Albums of the Year for 2020!
“What’s unexpected from these contemporary choral works is composer Tarik O’Regan’s music, which is modern, but accessible and beautiful. The Pacific Chorale and musicians from the Salastina Music Society. This is amazing music, beautifully recorded.”
– Bill Dodd
“Any new release from Yarlung Records is noteworthy, more so when the release is a complete program of music by one of the world’s most highly regarded choral composers. Tarik O’Regan relocated from Great Britain to the San Francisco area where he’s now composer-in-residence for Pacific Chorale. O’Regan’s style is immediately engaging, largely tonal with minimalistic elements and occasional aleatoric techniques. All Things Common programs seven works written between 2001 and 2019, the most recent, Facing West, a Pacific Chorale commission.”
– Andrew Quint, The Absolute Sound
“A consistently interesting program and beautiful singing make this one of the strongest American choral releases of 2020.”
– James Manheim, AllMusic (Full Review)
“The Pacific Chorale […] offers the latest works by Tarik O’Regan on CD. The fluent and sumptuous recording is worth a listen.”
– Timothy Mangan, contributing writer for Arts & Culture at Voice of OC (Full Review)
“Transparent, crystal and pure piece of work. The choir’s mastery is unsurpassed in its clarity and vocal technique. Beautiful music.”
–Dimitar Kovachev
“The sum total of this inclusive O’Regan program is a significant mix of choral gems spanning the millennium to now. Each work stands out on its own and ultimately Istad and the Pacific Chorale paint a beautifully full picture of the composer and his lucid beauty of idea and form. I’ve listened countless times and each hearing opens out new vistas, so I have no doubt on this one. Enthusiastically recommended.”
– Grego Applegate Edwards (Full Review)
Purchase Your CD | Album Booklet | Album Liner Notes | HDTracks | DSD | Amazon | Spotify | Apple
Friends,
What is it about choral music, produced by human voices in collaboration with one another, that touches us so deeply right now?
My hunch is that we crave collaboration, commitment, and inspiration right now. What better tangible metaphors for these things than a choral ensemble working synergistically for the common good and common enjoyment? I am so grateful to Tarik O’Regan and my dear Pacific Chorale members for inspiring us with the collaboration and commitment that led to the release of All Things Common this year.
To all of you, and especially our friends in the Recording Academy, we will look back on 2020 as a year we survived, a year we overcame thanks to inspiration and faith in the good of humanity. If you are a member of the Academy, please write to Bob at Yarlung Records and request the Recording Academy download page with links to the album in full. We would greatly appreciate your support.
Pacific Chorale has albums in stock, and if you don’t yet have a copy please order here! We are grateful to all of you for your support, especially to Lenora Meister, who so graciously served as our executive producer.
More information about the album and other formats is available here.
We hope this music brings you much pleasure.
With sincere best wishes for a bright future in music, in our concert halls, and on our planet,
Robert Istad
Artistic Director & Conductor
“A consistently interesting program and beautiful singing make this one of the strongest American choral releases of 2020.”
–James Manheim, AllMusic
“Any new release from Yarlung Records is noteworthy, more so when the release is a complete program of music by one of the world’s most highly regarded choral composers. Tarik O’Regan relocated from Great Britain to the San Francisco area where he’s now composer-in-residence for Pacific Chorale. O’Regan’s style is immediately engaging, largely tonal with minimalistic elements and occasional aleatoric techniques. All Things Common programs seven works written between 2001 and 2019, the most recent, Facing West, a Pacific Chorale commission.”
–Andrew Quint, The Absolute Sound
More Reviews:
Timothy Mangan for Voice of OC
Remy Franck for Pizzicato, Luxembourg
The San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards for 2021-22 were just announced and Pacific Chorale has received 2 of the coveted honors for: Best Choral Performance: Pacific Chorale, “Songs of the Soul” Pacific Chorale was on comfortably contemporary ground for this March 2022 program, which combined a modernist masterpiece, Frank Martin’s Mass for
Continue Reading
Pacific Chorale closed it’s 54th season “A Celebration of the Voice” with a thrilling and emotional performance in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California on May 7, 2022. All photos © Doug Gifford Photography
Continue Reading
DOWNLOAD PHOTOS HERE: https://tinyurl.com/PCMay7photos Press Contact: Libby Huebner, libbyhuebner562@gmail.com, 562.799.6055 Pacific Chorale, Led by Artistic Director Robert Istad, Concludes Season with Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, Featuring Soprano Deanna Breiwick and Bass-Baritone Dashon Burton, plus Tarik O’Regan World Premiere Program also Includes West Coast Premiere of Frank Ticheli’s Until Forever Fades Away and
Continue Reading
“It was a masterfully dramatic opening for the Pacific Chorale’s return to the concert platform.” “The return to the Segerstrom Concert Hall platform of the Pacific Chorale under their Artistic Director Robert Istad could not have been more warmly welcomed, and their performance of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil Op. 37 that was the main item, filling
Continue Reading
Press Contact: Libby Huebner, libbyhuebner562@gmail.com, 562.799.6055 PACIFIC CHORALE, LED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ROBERT ISTAD, ANNOUNCES 2021-2022 SEASON WITH RETURN TO IN-PERSON, INDOOR PERFORMANCES SLATED TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER, AT RENÉE AND HENRY SEGERSTROM CONCERT HALL Highlights of 54th Season, Spotlighting Contemporary Composers, Include: Two Tarik O’Regan World Premieres Bookending Season; West Coast Premieres
Continue Reading
Critical Praise All Things Common has been garnering strong reviews since its release, culminating in the announcement that the prestigious audiophile outlet Native DSD Music has named it one of their Top 10 Albums of the Year for 2020! “What’s unexpected from these contemporary choral works is composer Tarik O’Regan’s music, which is
Continue Reading
We are proud and excited to have our latest recording included in the first-round ballot for the 2021 Grammy Awards! Friends, What is it about choral music, produced by human voices in collaboration with one another, that touches us so deeply right now? My hunch is that we crave collaboration, commitment, and inspiration right now.
Continue Reading