CHANTICLEER FOCUSES ON NEW MUSIC IN 2006/07 BAY AREA SEASON

Featuring Premiere of Full-Evening Mass by Five Contemporary Composers

Additional Premieres, “Love’s Messengers”, Christmas Concerts Also On Tap

San Francisco, May 16, 2006—Chanticleer, the internationally-acclaimed, 12-man vocal ensemble, announces that its 29th Bay Area subscription season will focus on contemporary works, including the West Coast premiere of a full-length mass by five composers. And On Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass will be performed here in Spring 2007 following its world premiere on April 26, 2007 in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A concert of new music in September includes the world premiere of The Wanderer by Ezequiel Viñao. The classic A Chanticleer Christmas and Love’s Messengers, a program of music of the heart, complete the season. See attached calendar listing for full date and venue details.

“Chanticleer’s dedication to new music has been a hallmark of our activities since the early years,” notes Music Director Joseph Jennings. “The continued vitality of the choral repertoire demands that we support and present the work of a diverse selection of living composers.” The ensemble will perform 26 concerts across the greater Bay Area between September 17, 2006 and June 3, 2007.

“Quotations”
The season opens September 17 with “Quotations,” an exploration of new choral music by several contemporary composers. To further enhance the concert experience, singers and audience will interact. The San Francisco performances of “Quotations” will take place at Terra, the art gallery and event space, rather than in the churches that are Chanticleer’s usual local venues. “Quotations” features the world premiere of Argentine-American composer Ezequiel Viñao’s The Wanderer, a setting of an ancient Anglo-Saxon poem. The Wanderer is a co-commission by Chanticleer and Chicago a cappella, with funding by Meet the Composer. Works by Paul Schoenfield, Carlos Sanchez Gutierrez, Robert Kyr, Arthur Jarvinen and Steven Stucky round out the program. “Quotations” opens on September 17 in Berkeley and continues September 22 and 24 in San Francisco and September 23 in Santa Clara.

A Chanticleer Christmas
A beloved Bay Area tradition for over 25 years, A Chanticleer Christmas returns with ten performances across the region. The concert blends traditional carols, medieval and Renaissance sacred works and moving spirituals. A Chanticleer Christmas will be performed December 9 at 8:00p.m. in Davis; December 10 at 6 and 8:30p.m. in Petaluma; December 15 at 6 and 8:30p.m. in Santa Clara; December 16 at 8:00p.m. and December 23 at 8:00p.m. in San Francisco; December 21 at 8:00p.m. in Berkeley and December 22 at 6 and 8:30p.m. in Carmel.

Love’s Messengers
The season continues with a salute to the music of the heart. Love’s Messengers features works by masters such as Guerrero, Gesualdo, Orlando di Lasso, Poulenc, and Messiaen, along with folk songs and familiar gems. The program will be performed in Petaluma on March 9, 2007; in San Francisco on March 10 and 11; in Berkeley on March 12; in Santa Clara on March 17 and in Davis on March 18.

And On Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass
Chanticleer reaches yet another creative milestone with And on Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass--a work in five movements composed by five dynamic contemporary composers from distinctive cultural and musical backgrounds. A composer of works performed by the world’s major orchestras and opera companies, Israeli-born Shulamit Ran will contribute the Credo, to a Hebrew text. American composer Douglas J. Cuomo will write the Kyrie. Turkish-American Kamran Ince will compose the Gloria section in a setting of a Sufi text. Ivan Moody will write a Sanctus in the Greek Orthodox tradition. And Irish folk and medieval-influenced composer Michael McGlynn will craft the Agnus Dei. Each movement of the Mass will be funded in memory of a particular San Francisco personage. And On Earth, Peace is a celebration of the life of Chanticleer founder Louis Botto (1951-1997). And On Earth Peace will be performed in San Francisco on May 18, 2007 at Grace Cathedral and at Sherith Israel on June 2; in San Jose on May 19; in Berkeley on May 20; in Carmel on June 1 and in Sacramento on June 3.

A recording of And On Earth Peace: A Chanticleer Mass will be released in time for the April 2007 world premiere at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and will be available at the six Bay Area performances.

The Bay Area season is an important part of Chanticleer’s annual activities, which in 2006/07 include approximately 50 additional performances in national tours and multiple educational outreach activities in the Bay Area and across the country. Chanticleer’s full 2006/07 touring schedule will be announced in July.

Two-, three- and four-concert season subscriptions range from $84 to $160 with discounts for students and seniors. Single ticket prices are $44 and $39 for reserved sections and $25 for General Admission seating, with $3.00 off for students and seniors over 65. 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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Contact: Nancy Roberts, Director of Marketing & PR, 415-252-8589 ext. 306; nroberts@chanticleer.org

CALENDAR LISTING

CHANTICLEER 2006/07 BAY AREA SEASON

CLASSICAL MUSIC SEASON
Internationally-acclaimed 12-man vocal group, dubbed “America’s favorite vocal ensemble” by the New Yorker magazine, performs a four-concert, 26-performance season across the greater Bay Area, with concerts in San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Clara, San Jose, Petaluma, Davis, Carmel, and Sacramento.

TICKETS
Two-, three- and four-concert season subscriptions range from $84 to $160. Single ticket prices are $44 and $39 for reserved sections and $25 for General Admission seating, with $3 discounts for students and seniors over 65. 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.

“Quotations”
An exploration of new choral music by a diverse collection of contemporary composers, featuring the world premiere of Argentine-American composer Ezequiel Viñao’s The Wanderer, a setting of an ancient Anglo-Saxon poem. With works by Paul Schoenfield, Carlos Sanchez Gutierrez, Robert Kyr, Arthur Jarvinen and Steven Stucky.

Berkeley
First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way
Sunday, September 17, 2006 • 7pm

San Francisco
TERRA, 511 Harrison Street (Section One Seating Price Only)
Friday, September 22, 2006 • 8pm
Sunday, September 24, 2006 • 7pm

Santa Clara
Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara University
Saturday, September 23, 2006 • 8pm

A Chanticleer Christmas
A hallmark of the holidays for over 25 years! A Chanticleer Christmas celebrates the true mystery and wonder of Christmas with an elegant blend of traditional carols, medieval and Renaissance sacred works and moving spirituals.

Davis
Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the
Performing Arts, UC Davis
Saturday, December 9, 2006 • 8pm
Note: $25 seats at Davis are assigned, not General Admission

Petaluma
St. Vincent Church, 35 Liberty Street
Sunday, December 10, 2006 • 6 & 8:30pm

Santa Clara
Mission Santa Clara, SCU
Friday, December 15, 2006 • 6 & 8:30pm

San Francisco
St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker
Saturday, December 16, 2006 • 8pm
Saturday, December 23, 2006 • 8pm

Berkeley
First Congregational Church,
2345 Channing Way
Thursday, December 21, 2006 • 8pm

Carmel
Carmel Mission, Rio Road
Friday, December 22, 2006 • 6 & 8:30pm

Love’s Messengers
Love is honored on fleet wings of song with Love’s Messengers, a program in the universal language of the heart with music by masters such as Guerrero, Gesualdo, Orlando di Lasso, Poulenc, and Messiaen, along with folk songs and familiar gems.

Petaluma
St. Vincent Church, 35 Liberty Street
Friday, March 9, 2007 • 8pm

San Francisco
First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin Street
Saturday, March 10, 2007 • 8pm
Sunday, March 11, 2007 • 7pm

Berkeley
First Congregational Church,
2345 Channing Way
Monday, March 12, 2007 • 8pm

Santa Clara
Mission Santa Clara, SCU
Saturday, March 17, 2007 • 8pm

Davis
Mondavi Ctr. for the Performing Arts, UC Davis
Sunday, March 18, 2007 • 3pm (note time)
Note: $25 seats at Davis are assigned, not General Admission

And On Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass
West Coast Premiere
Chanticleer reaches yet another creative milestone with And on Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass--a work in five movements composed by five significant contemporary composers from distinctive cultural and musical backgrounds: Israeli-born Shulamit Ran will contribute the Credo, to a Hebrew text. American composer Douglas J. Cuomo will write the Kyrie. Turkish-American Kamran Ince will compose the Gloria section in a setting of a Sufi text. Ivan Moody will write a Sanctus in the Greek Orthodox tradition. And Irish folk and medieval-influenced composer Michael McGlynn will craft the Agnus Dei.

San Francisco
Grace Cathedral, 1051 Taylor Street
Friday, May 18, 2007 • 8pm
Sherith Israel, 2266 California Street
Saturday, June 2, 2007 • 8pm

San Jose
St. Joseph’s Cathedral Basilica, 80 South Market Street
Saturday, May 19, 2007 • 8pm

Berkeley
First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way
Sunday, May 20, 2007 • 7pm

Carmel
Carmel Mission, Rio Road
Friday, June 1, 2007 • 8pm

Sacramento
St. Francis Church, 1066 26th Street
Sunday, June 3, 2007 • 5pm (note time)

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