InTheNo 6: Conductor Donald Nally

Donald Nally left his job as a music professor to found an all-professional chamber choir; despite overwhelming critical acclaim, the group was forced to disband within two years. Nearly a decade later, as Nally prepares to become the Chorus Master of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, he and his singers have renewed their commitment to the performance of new and modern choral music as The Crossing. Nally speaks about his experiences, as well as sound, breath, emotion, release, and connection through the human voice. We touch on numerous topics during this show, including: Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia Spoleto Music Festival -- Italy, United States Gian Carlo Menotti, Amahl and the Night Visitors Westminster Choir College Joseph Flummerfelt The Chicago "L" Arvo P�¤rt Sir John Tavener Ton de Leeuw Gerald Finzi Intimations of Immortality Chorus America and the Margaret Hillis Award Margaret Hillis Chicago Symphony Orchestra Welsh National Opera West Chester University Philadelphia Inquirer, music critic David Patrick Stearns Chestnut Hill Local, music critic Michael Caruso Contemporary composers Thomas Ad�¨s, Jonathan Harvey, Judith Weir, David Shapiro, Robert Convery, Robert Maggio, Sharon Hershey, Jake Heggie, Kaija Saariaho Josquin des Prez Mark Rothko Lyric Opera of Chicago Tosca by Giacomo Puccini The Crossing Several live performance excerpts are heard during this episode, all conducted by Maestro Nally: "Lamentio Super Morte Josquin de Pres" by Hieronymus Vinders, performed by the Bridge Ensemble (0:00) "Te Deum" by James MacMillan, performed by The Crossing (1:35) "O Leave Your Sheep" arranged by Kenneth Leighton, performed by The Crossing (11:52) "trees" by Lars Johan Werle, performed by the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, solo by Levi Hernandez (18:19) "Gloria Tibi Domine" from The Saint of Bleeker Street by Gian Carlo Menotti, performed by the Spoleto Festival Choir (26:04) "O Notte" by Bruno Bettinelli, performed by The Crossing (31:00) "Now, While The Birds Thus Sing A Joyous Song" from Intimations of Immortality by Gerald Finzi, performed by the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra (33:50) "Christmas Daybreak" by Robert Convery, commissioned and performed by the Bridge Ensemble (38:58) "Gallant Weaver" by James MacMillan, performed by The Crossing (48:16) "I Thirst" from Seven Last Words from the Cross by James MacMillan, performed by the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra (53:40) "Lagrime D'amante Al Sepolcro Dell'Amata" by Claudio Monteverdi, performed by the Bridge Ensemble (57:12) Come listen, and learn more about what lives in the space between the notes. _______________________________________________