Pasadena Master Chorale in concert June 4 and 5

When the Pasadena Master Chorale (PMC) presents “The Green Concert” on Saturday June 4 at 7:30 p.m. at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church and Sunday, June 5 at 4 p.m. at Altadena Community Church, the choir will hold not one but two ‘celebrations.’

“For starters, we’ll celebrate the conclusion of our third season, our most successful yet as music lovers throughout Southern California become increasingly aware of our mission to present concerts of the highest quality, featuring choral music spanning five centuries, from the baroque era to the 21st century,” says Artistic Director Jeffrey Bernstein. “We’re especially pleased to be presenting ‘The Green Concert’ with aid from another Pasadena-based organization that shares our commitment to bringing music to the community – the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts. We’re so grateful for PSHA’s support and look forward to welcoming many members of the committee to the concert.”

PMC fits well within the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts’ mission, adds PSHA President Marti Farley. “PSHA is dedicated to bringing music to as wide an audience as possible - from toddlers to senior citizens; from classical music lovers to jazz music lovers; from country music fans to rap music fans.,” says Farley. “However, PMC, with its focus on outreach, resonates especially strongly with us because we do more than sponsor concerts. PSHA also funds youth music programs, music therapy programs, and provides music educational opportunities to the residents of the greater Los Angeles area.”


But “The Green Concert” offers PMC – and its audiences – the opportunity to celebrate far more than reaching an organizational milestone. Bernstein has deliberately selected works that not only pay tribute to planet Earth but illustrate humankind’s multifaceted relationship, throughout the ages, with Mother Nature.

The program will open with two pieces composed by Bernstein, himself – The Elm at the Crossroads and The Echoing Green.

“The Elm at the Crossroads was composed on a text by Vermont poet Walter Hard,” explains Bernstein, who in addition to being hailed as a “rising star in this country” by the Naples Daily News, has composed over 50 concert works. “The piece is a eulogy for a tree that was chopped down to widen an intersection in my hometown of Manchester Vermont.”

Bernstein continues: “The Echoing Green is a setting of the eponymous poem from William Blake’s ‘Songs of Innocence.’ ”

Also on the program is In The Beginning by Aaron Copland, which Bernstein describes as an “astonishing” work for mezzo-soprano and an 8-part a cappella choir that musically depicts the creation story from Genesis. Mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman will appear as guest soloist.

“What an unmitigated joy it is to sing with Maestro Bernstein,” says Guzman, an internationally renowned artist who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, and Dallas Opera and was one of the original Associate Artists of the Los Angeles Opera, where she has appeared in leading roles since 1986. “And how appropriate it is for me to sing this piece of Copland with this choir in my hometown. In the beginning is truly where my heart is – talk about coming full circle! I can’t wait for these performances.”

PMC will perform three works by 20th century composer Randall Thompson as well: Alleluia, a work composed for the opening of the Tanglewood music festival in 1940, conducted by PMC assistant conductor, Lauren Buckley; Ye Shall Have A Song, the finale of Thompson’s larger work, The Peaceable Kingdom; and Frostiana, seven of Robert Frost’s poems set for chorus and piano and composed in honor of Amherst, Massachusetts’ bicentennial. Shawn Kirchner, a composer whose works have been performed throughout the United States and abroad and who, as a pianist, appeared earlier this season with PMC for a performance of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem for choir and two pianists, returns as guest artist.

“Frostiana was originally composed in 1959, but in 1965 Thompson orchestrated the work,” says Bernstein. “Nowadays it is almost never performed in the original version for piano.”

Joining the Chorale for Alleluia and Ye Shall Have A Song are 30 students from the Pasadena Unified School District. Each young singer participates in the Chorale’s mentoring program, which pairs the students with experienced PMC members.

“PMC is committed to engaging Pasadena's young choral singers and fostering their love of the choral art,” says Cindy Abbott, Director of Education. “Through partnerships with four PUSD schools, we offer performance opportunities to dozens of Pasadena students each year. These include not only our concerts but an annual vocal competition program as well. The winner then appears as a guest soloist at a future performance.”

“I don’t know who’s more excited by our outreach programs, the students or the rest of us who are thrilled to be part of introducing Pasadena’s most talented young singers to the community,” adds Board President and PMC member Carol Peterson.

Tickets for “The Green Concert” are reasonably priced at $15 and may be purchased by visiting the Pasadena Master Chorale’s website, www.pasadenamasterchorale.org, through any Chorale member, or at the door. Complete details on concerts, ticket prices and venue locations can be found on the website as well. Recorded information is available by phone at 626.208.0009.

“The Green Concert” is funded in part by a grant from the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts.

La Crescenta Presbyterian Church is located at 2902 Montrose Avenue in La Crescenta-Montrose, 91214. The Altadena Community Church is located at 943 East Altadena Drive in Altadena, 91101.