On Mendelssohn’s Elijah, by R. Larry Todd

Few compositions document as compellingly as Elijah the shifting critical reception accorded Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) during the past one hundred and fifty years. At the English premiere, heard at the Birmingham Musical Festival in 1846, Elijah was hailed as an undisputed masterpiece; since then it has remained a staple part of the oratorio repertory,… Read More

Guest Blogger: 2 Weeks ‘Til Carnegie & Visit from the Children’s Choir

From time to time, we invite a guest blogger to share their insights. In this installment, Janet – a member of the Symphonic Choir alto section – sheds light on preparations for the Choir’s return to Carnegie Hall on October 16, 2016. As tonight’s choir practice ended, I switched on the radio in my car… Read More

Can We Tell Them We Are Hungry?

In last week’s overview of ZABUR, the upcoming world premiere by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, we looked at the use of traditional Psalm texts (Psalms 2 and 102) by composer Mohammed Fairouz. These texts, sung by the Symphonic Choir in Arabic, form the framework of this two-movement work for chorus, children’s choir and symphony orchestra…. Read More

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