Bienen Ensembles

Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble

Terrifying Angel—Choral Explorations of Rilke

Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 7:30pm CST

Galvin Recital Hall

Andrew Megill and Tim Lambert, conductors
Stephen Andrew Taylor, guest composer

An evening of choral settings of poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke, whose beautiful and powerful words explore the human experience of transcendence. Paul Hindemith’s Six chansons elegantly set the poet’s miniature French poems, which vividly depict fleeting moments of truth via their descriptions of the natural world. Die erste Elegie by the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara transforms one of Rilke’s most complex poems (and one of the poet’s own favorites) into a dramatic work for virtuoso choir. Also on the program is a commission from Illinois composer Stephen Andrew Taylor (‘87) and the American premiere of Rilke settings by Canadian composer Ramona Luengen.

Ramona Luengen, In tiefen Nächten 
Paul Hindemith, Six chansons 
Stephen Andrew Taylor, Only Yes (world premiere) 
Einojuhani Rautavaara, Die erste Elegie 

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Tickets are $8 for the general public and $5 for students with valid ID.

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Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

Address

70 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

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About

Located in the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, this 400-seat hall features a 40-foot glass wall offering views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Undulating walls of Forest Stewardship Council–certified wood, covered with a thin layer of African moabi wood, provide optimal acoustics, and the hall is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and video equipment for recording.