Los Angeles Master Chorale

The The Los Angeles Master Chorale, led by Music Director Paul Salamunovich, maintains a unique and distinguished position as the largest independent choral organization in the United States. Recognized as one of Los Angeles' cultural treasures, the Chorale has played a leading role in the ongoing resurgence of interest in choral music. The first organization in the nation to offer a complete season of great choral masterworks, the Los Angeles Master Chorale has also presented seventeen world premieres, two American premieres, and four West Coast premieres, thirteen commissioned by and for the Chorale.

Founded by the late Roger Wagner, the Master Chorale gave its first performance at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1964, presenting a full season every year since then with its own Sinfonia Orchestra. One of the Performing Arts Center's three original performing arts companies in residence, the Los Angeles Master Chorale will once again be a founding resident company upon the opening of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Over the years, the Master Chorale has hosted such distinguished guest conductors as Robert Shaw, Alfred Wallenstein, Helmuth Rilling, Margaret Hillis, Robert Page and Richard Westenberg. In addition to presenting its own season, the Chorale performs regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl Orchestras. The Los Angeles Master Chorale has also recorded with the L.A. Philharmonic and has performed and recorded with such stellar artists as Zubin Mehta, Carlo Maria Guilini, André Previn, Pierre Boulez, Michael Tilson Thomas and Roger Norrington, among many others.

The Chorale has released three widely acclaimed CDs on the RCM label: Christmas and Lauridsen – Lux Aeterna, the latter devoted to the works of Master Chorale Composer-in-Residence, Morton Lauridsen. Lauridsen – Lux Aeterna, has been a top-seller throughout the country since its release in 1998. The Los Angeles Master Chorale has been featured on the soundtracks of many major motion pictures, including Air Force One, Batman & Robin, Dracula, Extreme Measures, First Knight, Flatliners, Grand Canyon, Independence Day, Intersection, My Best Friend's Wedding, Outbreak, Twister, and Waterworld, among others.

Extending its reach to young voices in the community, the Master Chorale stages a remarkable gathering of young voices when the talents of more than 1,000 high school students are brought together under the direction of Maestro Salamunovich at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion during its annual Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival. Additional educational outreach programs are offered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale's Chamber Singers who appear at more than 35 Southern California elementary, middle, and high schools each season.

Discography

Steve Reich

Steve Reich recalls the approach and sound of some of his most celebrated early work - groundbreaking repertoire like The Desert Music, Tehillim, and Music For 18 Musicians - while creating vital, spiritually stirring new music for right now. The four-movement title piece, written for voices and live instruments and performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, premiered at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to extraordinary reviews. Steve Reich recently was hailed as “America’s greatest living composer.” (The Village Voice), “the most original musical thinker of our time” (The New Yorker), and “among the great composers of the century” (The New York Times).

Lauridson: Lux Aeterna

Morton Lauridsen is Composer-in-Residence for the Master Chorale and Chair of the Dept. of Composition at USC. These original works are performed by the Chorale under the direction of Paul Salamunovich. Accompanied by the Sinfonia Orchestra, this recording was Grammy nominated, and has been in high demand since its release. Containing works written in the past decade as well as three world premiere recordings (seventeen tracks in all) it begins with the self-titled "Lux Aeterna," a five movement work that draws upon Latin texts, each containing references to Light. Next are the exquisite "Chansons Des Roses," set to poems of Rainier Maria Rilke. "Ave Maria" is an a cappella motet, and "Mid-Winter Songs" is a choral cycle using winter as its unifying motif. The result is ethereal, inspiring and above all, flawless.
Listen to "De Ton Reve Trop Plein" , "O Magnum Mysterium" , and "Introitus" in Real Audio.

6518 CD $15.98

Argento / Durufle

Maestro Salamunovich conducts the Master Chorale and Sinfonia Orchestra in two true masterworks of the late 20th century choral literature. Of his work "Te Deum, (Verba Domini cum verbis populi)" Minnesota based composer Dominick Argento has written that the words are, as the subtitle implies, written in a manner which associates six sections of Middle English lyrics with the six Latin texts. It was composed thus to present a sense of the learned "church style" justaposed with more musical elements found in the populace of the day. Maurice Duruflé¹s Messe (Mass) "Cum Jublio" written in 1966 was scored for a unison choir of men's voices and organ or orchestra. While having five movements they are not usual and throughout there permeates plainchant melodies from the Gregorian Mass IX, "Cum Jubilo." Glorious!

6599 CD $15.98

Glass / Salonen

The acclaimed Los Angeles Master Chorale, conducted by Grant Gershon, brings us the music of Phillip Glass and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Featured is Itaipu by Glass, an ecstatic piece framing the ancient folklore of South AmericaÕs Guarani Indians against a massive hydroelectric dam at Itaipu on the Brazil/Paraguay border. "Itaipu" is divided into four parts, "Mato Grosso," "The Lake," "The Dam" and "To The Sea." Also featured is the world premiere recording of SalonenÕs "Two Songs to Poems of Ann Jaderlund." The composerÕs vision of love as described in these poems is dynamic, richly romantic and enthrallingÐa tour de force of the sonic capabilities of the 111-strong chorus. Cutting-edge choral music, orchestrally accompanied, stunning and magnificent.

Paul Salamunovich: Choral Perspectives - Chant and Beyond

Paul Salamunovich, Grammy-nominated Conductor Emeritus of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, discusses why his concepts of tone, style and musicianship are rooted in chant. In addition to sharing his expertise in interviews, the Maestro reheares Durufle and Lauridson with university singers. This DVD allows the viewer to experience his artistry from a choir member's perspective. For many years, Paul Salamunovich has been creating just about the lovliest choral singing this side of heaven. This DVD provides a look behind the scenes from which we can learn what drives his quest for choral excellence and how he achieves it. At the heart of his Vision of choral music lies the rich repertory of gregorgian chant which he first learned as a boy soprano, providing a true and solid foundation for good singing in a whole range of styles. A Salamunovich is always honest and true to the composer, but beyond that, transformed by the the light of the spirit and the warmth of inner beauty which Paul has the rare ability to reveal. Paul is an unforgettable man, musician, conductor, and teacher who enriches every life he touches. This very Welcome DVD will help to ensure that his legacy endures.

6379 DVD $38.95

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