University Singers and Chamber Choir

April 24, 2003 :: No. 209

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Under the baton on John Alexander The University Singers, joined by orchestra, open the evening concert with Robert Levin's fairly recently reworked completion of Mozart's Requiem. As there are a variety of editions available of Mozart’s Requiem from which to choose, conductors must contemplate the choice. For director John Alexander he reflects on his decision to perform Levin’s version, “I regard Levin as a tremendous Mozart scholar and pianist, and through his studies he has developed a fresh look at the piece.” Alexander continues, “Levin has eliminated much of the material added after Mozart’s death, and I believe it to be the most accurate of all editions. Plus, after studying sketches left by Mozart, Levin has also added a fugue-style Amen to the end of the Lacrimosa being true to the sketches and Mozart’s compositional style. With the added Amen section, Levin creates a stronger structure to the Requiem, and generates an energy intended and needed. For our audiences, I hope this edition it will offer them fresh listening experience.”

The Chamber Singers will offer four sacred choral pieces by Mozart, assisted by Grant Rohr on organ. These four include the rarely performed "Sancta Maria, mater dei" and "Alma, dei Creatoris" and familiar gems "Venite Populi" and "Ave Verum corpus.”

The University Singers have a long and distinguished reputation as one of the finest collegiate vocal ensembles in the United States. The Singers have performed for numerous national choral conventions including the American Choral Directors Association, the Music Teachers National Association and the Music Educators National Conference. Since1987, when the Singers represented the U.S. at the first symposium of the International Federation for Choral Music in Vienna, they have toured extensively throughout the world, and made appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Zubin Mehta and Carlo Maria Giulini, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Carl St.Clair, the Long Beach Symphony under the direction of Joann Falletta, the Boston Pops Orchestra under the baton of Keith Lockhart and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra with John Mauceri.

The Chamber Singers, a newer ensemble, has toured the past few years to Europe including extensive tours of Spain and Italy. This 28-member ensemble recently wowed audiences during their three performances in New York at the American Choral Directors Association national convention.

Director John Alexander brings an extensive conducting background to the choral program of California State University, Fullerton. His achievements as a masterful interpreter of the musical score have been demonstrated in his 28-year history as Artistic Director and Conductor one of America’s major professional choirs, the Pacific Chorale of Southern California. He has also appeared as guest conductor with prestigious orchestras around the world, including L’Orchestre Lamoreaux of Paris, the National Symphony of Belgium, the Oxford Symphony, the St. Petersberg Chamber Orchestra, the Estonian National Symphony, the Central Philharmonic of Beijing, the Shanghai Symphony, the Hong Kong Symphony, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Pasadena Symphony, and the Pacific Symphony.

Media Contact: Elizabeth Champion, College of the Arts at 657-278-2434

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