Sunday, May 3, 2009, 7 p.m., at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Program also Features Messiaen’s Masterpiece Trois petites liturgies

The Los Angeles Master Chorale concludes its multi-year initiative “Homage to Haydn” with Haydn’s rarely performed Heilig Mass on Sunday, May 3, 2009, 7:00 p.m., at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Haydn’s work is paired with Messiaen’s extraordinary masterpiece Trois petites liturgies, written for women’s chorus and ondes Martenot, one of the world’s first electronic instruments. Mary Chun, one of only two ondistes in the U.S., and Vicki Ray, piano, will be featured instrumentalists with this work.

“On the surface these two works couldn’t be more different,” states Music Director Grant Gershon, who conducts the concert, “but several things make them kindred sprits. Both composers are consummate craftsmen, meticulous in the skill and beauty of their compositional technique. And both pieces have a strong spiritual underpinning that is both personal and universal.”

The Chorale’s “Homage to Haydn” initiative has showcased all six of Haydn’s famous final Masses over the past three seasons in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. He died peacefully at age 77 on May 31, 1809. Heilig Mass, a ravishingly lyrical and beautiful work in three movements, is thought to be the first of Haydn’s six late masses.

Messiaen’s Trois petites liturgies – beautiful, ethereal, emotional and quintessentially French – has earned a reputation as one of the choral masterpieces of the 20th Century and is one of the few choral works he wrote. Among its dramatic contrasts are virtuoso piano solos, long lush passages and spinning melodies.

The performance is made possible, in part, by a grant from The National Endowment for the Arts. The performance of Haydn’s Heilig Mass is made possible, in part, by a grant from the E. Nakamichi Foundation.

Tickets to the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s concert range from $19 to $124. Student Rush seats are $10 and are available at the box office two hours before the performance. For tickets and information, please call (800) 787-5262 (outside California call 213-972-7282), or visit www.lamc.org. (Tickets can no longer be purchased at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office except on concert days starting 2 hours prior to the performance.) The Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111 South Grand Avenue at First Street in downtown Los Angeles.

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EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Calendar Listing

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

The Grammy-nominated LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE, currently celebrating its 45th Season, has been cited as a national leader for its innovative and dynamic programming. Los Angeles Times states the Chorale “has become the most exciting chorus in the country under Grant Gershon.” Since its founding in 1964, LAMC has presented more than 450 concerts, including choral music from the earliest writings to the most recent contemporary compositions. In 2003 the Chorale became one of two resident companies in Walt Disney Concert Hall, launching a period of incredible artistic and organizational growth. The Chorale has commissioned 21 and premiered 51 new works, and has recorded 6 CD's. The Chorale’s most recent recording with Gershon, Daniel Variations, was released on Nonesuch in spring 2008. LAMC performs a season of eight concerts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, plus two performances of the Messiah Sing-Along; family-friendly Holiday Wonders concerts in December; and performs regularly with the L.A. Philharmonic. The Los Angeles Master Chorale has more than 1,000 subscribers, serves over 40,000 audience members of all ages, and provides education outreach to approximately 13,000 children each year. In 2008, one of the Chorale’s highly successful outreach programs, “Voices Within,” earned the coveted Chorus America Education Outreach Award.

Los Angeles Master Chorale Music Director GRANT GERSHON is equally at home with symphonic and choral music, opera, and musical theater. He was named Music Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 2001, and also serves as LA Opera Associate Conductor/Chorus Master. During his tenure with the Chorale, he has expanded the choir’s repertoire considerably, conducting dozens of world, U.S., West Coast and Los Angeles premieres. His Nonesuch recording with the Chorale of Steve Reich’s You Are (Variations) was honored with the WQXR Gramophone America Award in 2006. The New York Times, Washington Post and Newsday, among others, selected it as one of the top ten classical recordings of 2005. In 2002 he made his first CD with the Master Chorale, featuring the world premiere recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s first choral work as well as Philip Glass’s Itaipú (RCM 12004). Gershon has also served as chorus master on two Grammy Award-nominated CD’s, Sweeney Todd (New York Philharmonic Special Editions) and Ligeti’s Grand Macabre (Sony Classical). He recently appeared on the Great Performers series at Lincoln Center leading the LA Master Chorale, and on the Making Music Series at Zankel Hall. Gershon conducted the Minnesota Opera’s world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s acclaimed opera The Grapes of Wrath, led subsequent performances of the work with the Utah Symphony and also conducted the cast recording released in 2008 on P.S. Classics. He received his bachelor of music degree cum laude in piano performance from USC, and currently serves on the USC Thornton School of Music Board of Councilors.

Artists, program and ticket prices subject to change.

04/07/09