New Classic Singers continues its 26th concert season with Drums & Lovers, a dramatic and haunting concert of music for chorus and percussion. Conducted by Founder and Music Director Lee Kesselman, the chorus will be accompanied by long-time NCS pianist William Buhr and guest percussionists Michael Folker and Bobby Everson.

The singers will perform selections that pair the many facets of love with the rhythms and colors of numerous percussion instruments. The centerpiece of the program will be Dominick Argento's I Hate and I Love, a setting of words by Roman poet Catullus for chorus and two percussionists. The music portrays the full force of a lover's conflicts and joys. The concert will also include works by Samuel Barber, Morten Lauridsen, Eric Whitacre, Gwyneth Walker and Stephen Hatfield.

New Classic Singers includes soloists, conductors and music educators from throughout the Chicago area. The ensemble is known for rich, entertaining programs and polished, professional performances. NCS recently performed with the Fulcrum Point New Music Project at the Harris Theatre in Chicago.

Guest Artists:

Michael Folker has been performing in the Chicago area for the past 24 years. He is Principal Percussionist with the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater and the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra. He is also a member of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta and Lake Forest Symphony. Michael has also performed with pop groups such as Moody Blues, Kansas and Styx as well as classical performers Luciano Pavarotti and Victor Borge. In addition to performing, Michael is the Director of Percussion at The College of DuPage and Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at both Wheaton College and Judson University.

Robert Everson is one of the Chicago area?s most active and respected percussionists. He is principal tympanist of Chicago Sinfonietta, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Joffrey Ballet Orchestra and Ars Viva. He regularly plays with Chicago Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Grant Park Symphony.

PROGRAM

I

Überlebensgroß — Stephen Hatfield

II

I Hate and I Love (ODI ET AMO) (1982) — Dominick Argento (b. 1927)

III

I Will be Earth — Gwyneth Walker (b. 1947)

The Troubled Sweet of Her — Gwyneth Walker

Cheek to Cheek — Gwyneth Walker

If Ever Two Were One — Gwyneth Walker

INTERMISSION

IV

Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map — Samuel Barber (1910-1981)


Moonplay (1997) — Lee R. Kesselman

V

Cloudburst (in Spanish) — Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)

• El Cántaro roto (The broken water jar)
  Poetry by Octavio Paz
  

VI

Nocturnes (2005) — Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943)

• Sa Nuit d’Été (in French)
  Poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke
• Soneto de la Noche  (in Spanish)
  Poetry by Pablo Neruda
• Sure on This Shining Night
  Poetry by James Agee
  

VII

Überlebensgroß — Stephen Hatfield