The Harris Theater for Music and Dance and Chicago S Acclaimed Choir Ensemble, Bella Voce

F0R IMMEDIATE RELEASE Betsy Shea December 1, 2009 312-334-2459 [email protected] HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE AND BELLA VOCE CHAMBER CHOIR TO COMMEMERATE THE 400TH ANNIVERSAY OF MONTEVERDI’S SACRED VESPERS OF 1610 WITH HISTORIC PERFORMANCE, MARCH 29, 2010

Renowned Violinists Rachel Barton Pine and Martin Davids, along with The Callipygian Players chamber ensemble, to accompany Bella Voce in the momentous performance

CHICAGO (December 1, 2009) – In commemoration of its remarkable 400th Anniversary, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and Chicago’s acclaimed a cappella vocal ensemble, Bella Voce Chamber Choir, will present one of Western music’s most celebrated masterworks, Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Virgine (1610) on Monday, March 29, 2010 at 7:30 pm.

The Vespers engagement is a significant addition to the Harris Theater spring season line-up not only for its historical context, but also for the caliber of the musicians who will accompany Bella Voce in the performance, including world-renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine, hailed as “an exciting, boundary-defying performer,” by The Washington Post, Baroque violin virtuoso Martin Davids and the Baroque chamber ensemble The Callipygian Players.

In celebration of this extraordinary occasion, and in order to ensure Harris Theater patrons don’t miss this noteworthy performance, the Harris is offering subscribers to its Harris Theater Presents series one ticket to the Vespers performance at no additional cost.

Considered one of the most important composers in Western classical music, Monteverdi’s work led the transition from the Renaissance to Baroque periods of music. In addition to his religious- based pieces, Monteverdi is credited with composing one of the earliest operas, L’Orfeo, and is believed to have written at least 17 more operas in his lifetime. By the age of 50, Monteverdi was the most celebrated composer in his native country, Italy.

As praised by NPR, “sacred music has never danced like” Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610. Monteverdi presented his Vespers, written in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to Pope Paul V himself in Rome in 1610; it was printed in Venice later that same year. The monumental work is significant for two reasons: it calls for a choir large enough to perform up to 10 vocal parts that must also be split into separate choirs and incorporate several solo performances throughout the piece; and unique to Monteverdi’s other works, the Vespers incorporate significant instrumental accompaniment, including solo parts for both violin and cornetto, a wind instrument from the Baroque period. Monteverdi’s Vespers are built around Biblical texts traditionally used as part of the liturgy of the Roman Catholic church and include five psalms, the Magnificat, Mary's song of praise, and the hymn Ave maris stella. Of great debate over the centuries is Monteverdi’s inclusion of several other pieces to his Vespers, leading some scholars to believe the piece was not intended to be performed liturgically; many also question whether or not the piece was indeed intended to be a tribute to the Virgin Mary.

A testament to the significance of the piece both in the 17th Century and across the ages, Monteverdi’s Vespers have been credited with influencing Baroque masters Handel and J.S. Bach, and are even considered precursors of the Rock & Roll genre of music and most popular music today. With his Vespers, Monteverdi organized the music by functional harmony (chords), rather than counterpart (individual lines); today’s classic rock chord progression of one -- four -- five -- one (tonic -- subdominant -- dominant -- tonic) is derived straight from Monteverdi’s Vespers and early opera work. Tickets to the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 performance are $35 each; subscribers to Harris Theater Presents events will receive one ticket to the Vespers performance at no additional cost. Tickets are available at the Harris Theater box office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr., by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org.

All programs, prices and dates are subject to change.

The mission of Bella Voce is to entertain, inspire, and educate through the performance of choral chamber music. Bella Voce is committed to giving historically informed, professionally polished performances in original languages, and to keeping the art of polyphonic, a cappella singing alive and flourishing. The ensemble places a special emphasis on bringing little-known pieces and neglected composers to its audiences and its wide-ranging repertoire includes a cappella literature of the mid- and late-twentieth century, works commissioned from American composers, and sacred music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras.

Opened in 2003, the Harris Theater’s mission is to partner and collaborate with an array of Chicago’s emerging and mid-sized performing arts organizations to help them build the resources and infrastructure necessary to achieve artistic growth and long-term organizational sustainability. The Harris Theater for Music and Dance was the first multi-use performing arts venue to be built in the Chicago downtown area since 1929 and today the Theater continues to host the most diverse offerings of any venue in Chicago, featuring the city’s world-renowned music and dance institutions and the Harris Theater Presents series of acclaimed national and international companies. To learn more about the season at the Harris Theater, visit www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org or call the box office at 312-334-7777 to request a brochure.

For additional information about the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago’s state-of-the art 1,470 seat performance venue, please visit www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org.

For high-res images please contact Betsy Shea, Harris Theater for Music and Dance at 312.334.2459 or [email protected].

The Harris Theater is pleased to announce that UBS is serving as the 2009-2010 Season Sponsor.

William Blair is the Fall Season Sponsor.

The Harris Theater gratefully acknowledges the Irving Harris Foundation for its leadership support of the Presenting Fund.

United Airlines is the Official Airline of the Harris Theater.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is the Lead Underwriter of the Harris Theater’s Rental Subsidy Program.

The Harris Theater gratefully acknowledges The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s support of the theater’s collaborative partnerships.

The Harris Theater is partially supported by the CityArts Program 4 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.