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Follow on Google News | Bel Canto Chorus presents Prayers for MankindBel Canto Chorus will present Alexander Levine’s Prayers for Mankind on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM at the Basilica of St. Josaphat. Tickets are $20-$25.
By: Bel Canto Chorus Bel Canto Chorus opens its 2012-2013 season with the live world premiere of Alexander Levine’s eloquent, unaccompanied Prayers for Mankind, celebrating unity, humanity, wisdom, and love. Prayers for Mankind celebrates the life and writings of Father Alexander Men, a Russian Orthodox Christian priest who, despite being essentially unknown outside of Russia during his lifetime, has come to be hailed as a saint and martyr by thousands around the world. Following years of religious suppression under the communist regime, Fr. Men emerged as a leading Christian and humanitarian figure in Russia through radio and TV broadcasts and his prolific written works. As well as serving in his parish, he gave more than two hundred lectures during the last year of his life. On the morning of September 9, 1990, he was struck down from behind while walking. The police hinted that the culprit was a fanatical Jew; another rumor claimed it was a fanatical Christian. As there is no evidence for either, the most common theory is that it was an act of revenge by a fanatic from the Communist Party, who was angry that Fr. Men had helped put Christianity back center stage following more than 70 years of anti-religious activity by the state. These prayers, set by Russian composer Alexander Levine, capture the beauty of humanity according to Fr. Men’s view of the world. This season, titled “The Fine Art of Music”, Bel Canto incorporates a visual arts dimension to its performances by linking paintings, woodcuts, and sketches from The David Barnett Gallery to the musical repertoire performed at each concert. In addition, a Milwaukee artist will live paint during each concert, allowing patrons to witness a visual, as well as a musical, live performance. The featured artwork for Prayers for Mankind is Vignette Bei Einiges by Wassily Kandinsky. A Russian painter and graphic artist, Kandinsky had a fascination with music’s emotional power. This woodcut in black and white was hand-printed in a limited edition of 300 for his 1911 Klänge (Sounds) series. The original will be on display courtesy of The David Barnett Gallery, and order forms for giclée reproductions will be available at the concert. LISTING INFORMATION What Bel Canto Chorus presents Prayers for Mankind When Sunday, October 21 at 3:00 PM Where The Basilica of St. Josaphat (2333 S. 6th St., Milwaukee, WI) Who Featuring Bel Canto Chorus and Boy Choirs Tickets To purchase tickets ($20-$25), call the Box Office at (414) 481-8801 or visit http://www.belcanto.org. Senior, student, and group discounts are available. About Alexander Levine Born in Moscow in 1955, Alexander Levine studied piano from the age of six, and later he took up the clarinet. Upon graduation, he was accepted at the Moscow Gnessin Music Academy, where he studied from 1976-1980. In the years that followed, he established himself as a composer working in collaboration with a variety of highly acclaimed performers in Russia. His compositions won prestigious awards from the Russian National Radio and Television in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Since 1992, Alexander Levine has lived in the United Kingdom. In 1993, he studied Postgraduate Composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, receiving his Master’s Degree in Composition in 1995. About Richard Hynson This season marks Richard Hynson’s 25th anniversary season as Music Director of Bel Canto Chorus. Since 2006, Hynson has also served as Music Director of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. In addition to his work as a conductor and educator, Hynson is a composer. He has written a substantial body of published choral, vocal, and ensemble works, many of which he has recorded with Bel Canto Chorus singers. The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants have frequently performed Hynson’s “In the Midst of Life”, composed in response to the events of September 11. About Bel Canto Chorus Formed in 1931, Bel Canto Chorus is Southeastern Wisconsin’s longest continuously performing arts organization. It is made up of mostly volunteer singers from southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. Under the direction of Richard Hynson, the chorus opened its 81st season on Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2011 with “United We Stand” in Cathedral Square park. This free concert marking the tenth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks featured Mozart’s Requiem and Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” with the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. “The chorus sang with force and assurance, easily separating the complex vocal lines… and following Hynson's judicious phrasing in when to hold back and when to let go.” (David Lewellen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) About Bel Canto Boy Choirs The Bel Canto Boy Choirs were formed in August 2009, under the direction of Ellen M. Shuler. As Milwaukee’s only boy choirs, the groups consist of talented boys with changed and unchanged voices. For their first concert of the 2011-2012 season, the boy choirs performed with the Chorknaben Uetersen from Germany at Mequon United Methodist Church in July 2011. About David Barnett Gallery Established in 1966, the David Barnett Gallery is Wisconsin’s premier gallery and has the broadest range of art available in any Wisconsin gallery, including works of art that represent more than 600 artists. The gallery specializes in European and American masters, regional and nationally recognized artists, and “emerging” About The Basilica of St. Josaphat The Basilica of St. Josaphat, located at 2333 S. 6th Street in the Lincoln Village neighborhood of Milwaukee, is one of 62 minor basilicas in the United States. Its grandeur and opulence is an excellent example of the “Polish Cathedral” style of church architecture found in the Great Lakes region of North America. Modeled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, it features one of the largest copper domes in the world. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Milwaukee Landmark. Contact information/ For additional information, promotional photos, or interview requests, contact Marla Hahn, Executive Director, at (414) 481-8801. End
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