WELCOME TO OUR 48TH BAY AREA SEASON!
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Single tickets will become available for purchase on July 1, 2025
We celebrate America’s 250th year of independence by showcasing the diverse voices, songs, harmonies, and rhythms of our shared musical heritage. We explore how those voices influenced each other and how they impact the present day. The cornerstone of this program is a new commission by composer Trevor Weston, demonstrating the link between traditional American hymnody and African American spirituals. Other repertoire traces the progression of the American choral tradition from Black gospel quartets to shape-note singing to barbershop quartets and vocal jazz. The program also includes settings of traditional American bluegrass tunes and beloved folk songs, like “Calling my Children Home” and “Shenandoah,” as well as arrangements of more contemporary American classics, like Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” and “Home” from The Wiz.
A Chanticleer Christmas is a treasured holiday tradition, bringing the beauty and wonder of the season to audiences near and far. By the glow of candlelight, voices soar in harmony, weaving together centuries of music that illuminate the joy, mystery, and spirit of Christmas. From moments of hushed reverence to rousing celebration, this beloved program offers a musical embrace of the season’s most cherished sentiments.
Chanticleer invites you on a journey through the soul of San Francisco—a city of voices, visions, and vibrant harmony. From its storied avenues and fog-kissed peaks to its rich legacy of innovation and inclusion, San Francisco has long been a muse for artists and a beacon for dreamers. In this program, we honor the city’s diverse musical heritage, lifting up the works of Bay Area composers past and present, echoing the spirituals of resilience, the jazz of revolution, the folk of protest, and the contemporary sounds that continue to shape the cultural landscape. Interwoven through this program are tributes to the many identities that call this city home—voices of LGBTQ+ pride, immigrant spirit, and creative defiance.
America has always been a nation of many identities, and our history lives in our music. This program reflects the various cultures that shaped early America, revealing where we come from and exposing all the beauty and complexity of our past. Through polyphony, hymns, folk traditions, and spirituals, this music tells the story of early America, showcasing both its triumphs and struggles, offering a profound look at the root of our nation’s evolving and complex character.