For Immediate Release: June 6, 2009
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The Esoterics celebrates Constantinescu Centennial THE ESOTERICS CELEBRATES THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF A ROMANIAN HERO PLUS! Exciting Season Change in August! |
SEATTLE — In a concert season featuring eight world premieres, The Esoterics will shift to a different kind of debut in its upcoming June concert. Virtually unknown to audiences in America, Paul Constantinescu (1909-1963) was one of Romania's most distinguished and cherished composers. The Esoterics will celebrate the centennial of Constantinescu's birth in June as part of its 2009 season.
"We perform a centennial concert every year and in some years, such as 2008, there is a wealth of hundredth birthdays to celebrate," says Banks, referring to three centennial celebrations of Hugo Distler, Elliott Carter, Olivier Messiæn. "This year, we have an opportunity not only to introduce Seattle to a composer they might not know, but also provide an entrée into the extremely strong choral tradition of Eastern Europe."
A master of orchestral and vocal genres, Constantinescu was foremost among the generation of artists that breathed a new nationalism into Romanian classical music, as he infused the demands of Western counterpoint with the eccentricities of his native folksong. A hero of Romanian choral traditions, the city of Ploiesti in Romania has turned Constantinescu's home into a museum in 1993 (on the 30th anniversary of the composer's death), as a tribute to Constantinescu's contributions to Romanian culture.
Constantinescu's blending of sacred, poetic, and folk influences is demonstrated in his diverse output choral works, from which The Esoterics will perform all of his compositions for a cappella voices – his orthodox liturgy, ten folksong settings, and four madrigals.
The Constantinescu centennial will feature two guest artists: pianist Kevin Johnson (in the four madrigals) and conductor Gabriel Dumitrescu. A native Romanian choral music scholar, Dumitrescu was a class-mate of Eric Banks at the University of Washington and has, as part of his professional work, transcribed and published a Romanian hymnal. He will not only conduct Constantinescu's liturgy in the concert, but will also sing with the group, including a bout as a featured soloist.
Please join The Esoterics to celebrate the life and work of Paul Constantinescu at his centenary. Please note that venues for June 27 and 28 have changed since the 2009 season announcement!
Saturday 20 June 7:00 PM • Lynnwood
Trinity Lutheran Church • 6215 196th St. SW
Sunday 21 June 3:00 PM • Tacoma
Christ Episcopal Church • 310 N K St.
Saturday 27 June 8:00 PM • Seattle
Holy Rosary Catholic Church • 4139 42nd Ave SW (VENUE CHANGE)
Sunday 28 June 3:00 PM • West Seattle
Tickets are $20 at the door, $18 in advance, $15 for students,
seniors, the un(der)employed, and the differently-abled. Discounts are available
for groups of five or more at $12 per person. Active singers of any choral group
may attend for only $10. Advance tickets are available online at
St Joseph's Catholic Church • 732 18th Ave E (VENUE CHANGE)
The Esoterics has presented dozens of local and international premieres and has tackled the most challenging works of 20th and 21st century choral repertoire. Now in its 16th season with founding director Eric Banks, the ensemble has drawn national and international praise for presenting the many styles that comprise contemporary choral music. The Esoterics' commitment to innovative concert repertoire has been nationally recognized four times (in 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2008) with the ASCAP and Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. The ensemble was also honored to be selected as the only North American chorus to compete at the 2000 International Choral Festival in Cork, Ireland, the 2001 International Choral Festival in Tolosa, Spain, and the 2006 Harald Andersén International Choir Competition in Helsinki, Finland.
If you have additional questions about CONSTANTINESCU or The Esoterics (media contact only), please contact Bayta Maring ()