CLASSICAL MOVEMENTS PRESENTS ESCOLANIA DE MONTSERRAT from CATALONIA, SPAIN on SECOND-EVER U.S

CLASSICAL MOVEMENTS PRESENTS ESCOLANIA DE MONTSERRAT from CATALONIA, SPAIN on SECOND-EVER U.S. TOUR 750-YEAR-OLD BOY CHOIR PERFORMS 8 CONCERTS in AMERICA: NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES JUNE 28—JULY 8, 2017 One of Europe’s oldest, most storied boy choirs makes official West Coast debut From Wednesday, June 28 to Saturday, July 8, Classical Movements will present the rarely-heard Escolania de Montserrat in eight exquisite concerts on both coasts of the United States, including the choir’s very first performances in California. Under the baton of Music Director Llorenç Castelló–an alumnus of the 750-year-old Catalonian choir school, himself– Escolania will perform in New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C. and make their long- awaited West Coast debut with two concerts in San Francisco and Pasadena. Perched atop the mountains near Barcelona, the choir of the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat is one of Europe’s oldest choral ensembles, dating back to the early 14th century. Apropos, the Escolania boast a diverse repertoire worthy of their seven centuries of tradition. Works ranging from Gregorian chant and music of the Spanish baroque to more contemporary 711 Princess Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 | ClassicalMovements.com | 703.683.6040 | [email protected] pieces by former Music Director Bernat Vivancos and pioneering music educator Zoltan Kodály are sure to transport audiences and critics alike. Until recently, their primary engagement in religious, rather than concert activities made performances outside of Catalonia exceedingly rare. “Boy choirs of this quality are a special treasure in the choral music world, and we’re excited to bring the Escolania to the United States once again,” says Neeta Helms, Founder and President of Classical Movements, the concert tour company that organized both Escolania’s 2014 U.S. debut, as well as this summer’s tour. “Escolania’s historic tradition of training and musicianship, especially with the boys’ fleeting vocal range, guarantees that every year, every tour will have a polished, albeit unique sound.” Watch a short documentary on the Escolania, produced by the New York Times. Among the choir’s three appearances in Washington, D.C. are two concerts during Classical Movements’ 7th annual Serenade! Washington, D.C. Choral Festival, co-presented with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in honor of the centennial of JFK’s birth. In 1961, the legendary cellist Pablo Casals finally accepted JFK’s invitation to perform at the White House, after years of refusing to perform in the U.S. because of America’s acknowledgement of the fascist Franco regime in Spain. As a composer, Casals was closely connected to the Escolania, and they are traveling with one of his favorited compositions, “Oració a la Verge de Montserrat.” Audiences in Washington will also have the opportunity to hear Escolania participate in mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Audiences everywhere will revel in the breath-taking musicianship of an ensemble that has had more than 700 years to refine its craft. In turn, these dedicated young musicians will benefit from ensembles representative of America’s own tradition of young choral singing, collaborating with prestigious choruses like the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County, Pacific Boychoir Academy and Los Angeles Children’s Chorus–exchanges that will leave a lasting impression on musicians and audiences. Along their journey, the Escolania will enjoy famous American landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, 911 Memorial, National Mall, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Santa Monica Beach. “In all of their selections, the boys sang with near-faultless intonation and exceptional musical sensitivity...The exceptional quality of their music-making extended to pieces of all historical periods, including a Handelish “Angelus ad pastores ait” by Narcís Casanoves, another former Montserrat choirboy, and the more romantic motets by Àngel Rodamilans and Pablo Casals, both in honor of the Black Virgin of Montserrat.” – Washington Post (March 17, 2014) “The sound of the Escolania, however, is unique even among boys choirs. Vivancos calls it a ‘gold’ or ‘red wine’ type of sound vs. the light and bright sound of many boys choirs. Although all the boys are sopranos or altos, the blend of the Escolania is richer and darker, complementing the abbey’s mystical setting and the choir’s uncommon repertoire.” – Washington Post (March 17, 2014) SCHEDULE: NEWTON, NEW JERSEY | Christ Church Date: WED, JUNE 28 Time: 7 p.m. Host: Children’s Chorus of Sussex County Tickets: FREE NEW YORK, NEW YORK | St. Patrick’s Cathedral, High Altar Date: THURS, JUNE 29 Time: 4 p.m. Tickets: FREE NEW YORK, NEW YORK | Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cloisters Date: FRI, JUNE 30 Time: 6 p.m. Tickets: FREE, with museum admission WASHINGTON, D.C. | Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Date: SUN, JULY 2 Time: 9 a.m. (Mass) Tickets: FREE WASHINGTON, D.C. | Holy Trinity Catholic Church Date: SUN, JULY 2 Time: 8 p.m. Host: Serenade! Washington, D.C. Choral Festival Tickets: FREE, with Eventbrite registration WASHINGTON, D.C. | John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Concert Hall Date: MON, JULY 3 Time: 6 p.m. Host: Serenade! Washington, D.C. Choral Festival Tickets: FREE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA | Grace Cathedral Date: THURS, JULY 6 Time: 7:30 p.m. Host: Pacific Boychoir Academy Tickets: FREE, donation suggested PASADENA, CALIFORNIA | Pasadena Presbyterian Church Date: SAT, JULY 8 Time: 7 p.m. Host: Los Angeles Children’s Choir Tickets: FREE SAMPLE PROGRAM: Gregorian Chant Germinans Germinabit Llibre Vermell de Montserrat Mariam Matrem Tomás Luis de Victoria Duo Seraphim Father Cassià M. Just Angelus Domini Brother Odiló M. Planàs Salve Montserratina Pau Casals Oració a la Verge de Montserrat Francesc Civil El cant dels ocells Bernat Vivancos Welcome Kentaro Sato O lux beatissima Miklós Kocsár Salve Regina Zoltan Kodály Ave Maria Escolania de Montserrat is one of the oldest music schools in Europe and is arguably the premiere boys’ choir in Spain. By the 13th century, a small group of boys were already serving in the Benedictine abbey and Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat through the singing and playing of different musical instruments. Throughout the centuries, many remarkable composers and performers were spawned from the so-called Montserrat Music School. Under the direction and teaching of Fr. Ireneu Segarra (1953-1997), the Escolania became internationally recognized on a greater scale, recording many CDs and participating in festivals as well as touring many countries. Over the last few years, the Escolania has recorded the CDs O Vos Omnes, El Nostre Nadal, P. Miquel López, and a double CD of Responsoris de Setmana Santa by Narcís Casanoves. The choir has been conducted by Mstislav Rostropovitch, Sir Neville Marriner, Salvador Mas, Michael Boder, Harry Bicket, Kirill Petrenko and Jordi Savall. Over these years the choir has undertaken tours of the United States (East Coast), Russia, Holland, Puerto Rico, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and Poland, as well as many concerts in Catalonia. Over the course of its history, the Escolania de Montserrat has collaborated with a variety of orchestras such as Orquestra de Cadaqués, Musica Ducis Brabantiae from Holland, the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, Le Concert des Nations and Capella Reial de Catalunya, Orquestra de l’Acadèmia del Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Orquestra Nacional de Cambra d’Andorra. The Escolania performed in the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona in the opera Pikovaia Dama by Piotr Tchaikovsky (2002-2003 and 2009-2010 seasons) and in the opera A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten (2004-2005 season), which received the Midem prize of 2006. Nowadays, the Escolania is made up of more than 50 boys, ranging from 9 to 14 years old, who come from all across Catalonia. While they are studying at Montserrat, the boys cover the last years of Primary School and the first years of Secondary School, and also Music Studies. Each chorister plays two instruments: the piano and another instrument of their choice. All the students receive music lessons in class, play in the orchestra, and of course sing in the choir. Most of the choristers, when they leave Montserrat, continue on with their musical studies, especially over the last decades, where some have developed into remarkable singers, instrumentalists and conductors. Today, the aim of the Escolania–as in the past–is the daily participation in the prayer of the sanctuary, singing in front of a very large audience of pilgrims who come from all over the world. It is one of the objectives of the Escolania to spread sacred music, both of the composers of Montserrat and of internationally renowned composers as well. Through their singing, the choristers (called escolans in Catalan) are messengers of peace and beauty. Using the universal language of music, they cross all kinds of boundaries and speak directly to the hearts of the people who listen to them sing. Born in Barcelona in 1976, Llorenç Castelló began his musical studies at the Escolania de Montserrat, where he was a disciple of Fr Ireneu Segarra from 1986 to 1990. He holds an Advanced Degree in musical language and Professional Titles in composition and piano from the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu (Liceu Music Higher Conservatory). He is also a Professor at the Department of Musical Education of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. From the very beginning, he has been a member of the Capella de Música de Montserrat, the men’s choir that occasionally accompanies the Escolania. In 2009, he became the Second Director of the Escolania de Montserrat, and in 2012 he was also charged with Directing the Capella de Música.

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