FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tribute to Women & World Premiere on Hildegard von Bingen Highlight

CHANTICLEER's 2004/05 BAY AREA SEASON

Collaboration with Philharmonia Baroque, Christmas Concerts Also Featured

San Francisco, May 12, 2004-Chanticleer, the internationally-acclaimed, 12-man vocal ensemble, announces its 27th Bay Area subscription season. The season begins in October with a salute to women composers, creators and muses. Following the ever-popular Christmas concerts, the ensemble collaborates next April with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra on a program of 18th century Spanish masterpieces. The season closes with a world premiere music theater piece based on the life of Hildegard von Bingen, directed by Francesca Zambello. The GRAMMY-winning group will perform in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose, Santa Clara, Lafayette, Petaluma, Davis, Sacramento and Carmel.

Women, Saintly and Otherwise
From moving tributes to the Virgin Mary to bawdy drinking songs, Women, Saintly and Otherwise explores the glories of the female muse, friend, lover, mother, artist, ruler and temptress. Composers represented include Josquin, Monteverdi, Poulenc, and Augusta Read Thomas, among others. Women, Saintly and Otherwise will be performed September 26 at St. Vincent Church in Petaluma; October 2 and 22 at Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco; October 27 at All Saints Church in Carmel and October 28 at Mission Santa Clara in Santa Clara. Chanticleer Music Director Joseph Jennings assembled the program, which will also tour across the country during the season.

A Chanticleer Christmas
The Christmas concerts return in December with a blend of traditional carols, medieval and Renaissance sacred works, and moving spirituals. A Chanticleer Christmas will be performed ten times in the Bay Area: December 11 at 8:00pm and 19 at 8:00pm at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco; December 12 at 7:00pm at First Congregational Church in Berkeley; December 13 at 6:00pm and 8:30pm at St. Vincent Church in Petaluma; December 17 at 6:00 and 8:30pm at Mission Santa Clara; December 20, 8:00pm at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis; and December 23 at 6:00pm and 8:30pm at Carmel Mission.

Cathedral of Toledo
Chanticleer continues a tradition of collaboration with distinguished Bay Area-based groups with Cathedral of Toledo in conjunction with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. PBO Music Director Nicholas McGegan will conduct the two ensembles in a concert of 18th century masterpieces, including North American premieres of works by Jaime de Casellas. Cathedral of Toledo is not a part of Chanticleer's subscription season, and ticket prices differ by venue. Performances are April 8 and 16 at Mission Dolores in San Francisco, April 9 and 10 at First Congregational Church in Berkeley, April 12 at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, and April 15 at Stanford University's Memorial Church.

Hildegard: World Premiere
In June 2005, world-renowned opera director Francesca Zambello works with Joseph Jennings and the ensemble to create an insightful and dramatic look at 12th century abbess, mystic and composer Hildegard von Bingen. The libretto is by playwright Donna DiNovelli with music by Hildegard along with new commissions by contemporary composers Régis Campo and Stephen Stucky.   The piece premieres on Friday, June 3, 2005 at Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, with additional performances June 11 at Calvary; June 4 at St. Joseph's Cathedral in San Jose; June 5 at St. Mark's Church in Berkeley and June 12 at St. Francis Church in Sacramento.

Chanticleer's 2004/05 touring schedule will be announced in July.

Two- and three-concert season subscriptions range from $80 to $116. Single ticket prices are $42 and $37 for reserved sections and $25 for General Admission seating. Subscription brochures are now available and single tickets go on sale from City Box Office in August. To request a brochure, call 415-252-8589 or email info@chanticleer.org. For group sales of ten or more, contact Linda Graham at 415-346-7805.

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(calendar listing follows)

CONTACT: Nancy Roberts, Director of Marketing & PR, 415-252-8589 ext. 306
nroberts@chanticleer.org

2004/05 Bay Area Season

TICKETS

Two- and three-concert season subscriptions range from $80 to $116. Single ticket prices are $42 and $37 for reserved sections and $25 for General Admission seating. Subscription brochures are now available and single tickets go on sale from City Box Office in August. To request a brochure, call 415-252-8589 or email info@chanticleer.org. For group sales of ten or more, contact Linda Graham at 415-346-7805.

EDITORS: Black/white and color digital images available upon request.