Highlights: 23-24 Season Opening Concert
October 18, 2023
- October 18, 2023
Highlights: 23-24 Season Opening Concert
Pacific Chorale, led by Artistic Director Robert Istad and celebrated for its artistic innovation and compelling performances, launched its 56th season with Voices of Light / The Passion of Joan of Arc, a spectacular evening of music and film, on October 7, 2023, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
The cinematic event featured Richard Einhorn’s “brilliantly effective” (Washington Post) 1994 oratorio inspired by and performed live to director Carl Dreyer’s 1928 silent film masterpiece, The Passion of Joan of Arc. Einhorn’s evocative work, written for orchestra, chorus and soloists, provided a haunting backdrop to the restored version of Dreyer’s cinematic tour de force, considered by many critics to be among the greatest films ever made. USA Today proclaims it “the most successful melding yet of classic cinema and live music.” Einhorn drew primarily on the writings of medieval women such as Hildegard of Bingen and Christine de Pizan, for his text, and, at points, even included the words of Joan of Arc herself.
The featured soloists included Pacific Chorale members Alexandria Burdick, soprano; Rebecca Hasquet, soprano; Stephanie Shepson, mezzo-soprano; Jane Hyun-Jung Shim, mezzo-soprano; Jason Francisco, tenor; and Fernando Muñoz, bass. Pacific Chorale was joined by members of Pacific Symphony.
Immediately following the close of our opening concert, patrons and supporters were invited to the Box Circle Lobby to celebrate Pacific Chorale’s season launch. Enjoy more highlights from the evening below!
All photos (c) Pricilla C. Scott
Highlights: 23-24 Opening Night Concert & Reception
