Sacred & Profane

EDGAR MUENZER, CONDUCTOR

Scherzo Capriccioso, Op. 66 – DVORAK

Blumine - MAHLER

Carmina Burana - ORFF

Our final tribute to Romance this year is Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. This piece examines the mystery of human love, from the rather unlikely viewpoint of the secret thoughts and desires of monks. It is music in its purest and most elemental form music that bypasses the brain and goes straight to the emotions!

Also on the program is Dvořák's Scherzo Capriccioso which is a celebration of nature and evokes the feeling of a village festival. Rounding out the first half of the program is "Blumine," or "flower," which was written as the second movement to Mahler's First Symphony but was later turned into a separate short piece.

PETER VAN DE GRAAFF, producer and host of WFMT's Through the Night, will narrate this program.

The Soloists:

SARAH HIBBARD, a winner and finalist in major vocal competitions, is a masterful musician whose voice has been described as a shimmering soprano with a resounding quality reminiscent of the golden age of singing. In Chicago she was complimented on her "charismatic acting technique."

PEDER REIFF has been praised for his naturally warm and clear voice, astonishing range, musicianship, and stage presence. On the opera front, Peder has been seen performing throughout the country with compa- nies such as Chamber Opera Chicago, Chautauqua Opera Company and L'Opera Piccola.

The Choral Directors:

JOHN GOODWIN is beginning his 10th season as the choral director of the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra Chorus. He is a much sought after piano soloist and an accomplished recitalist, chamber musician, and accompanist.

SASHA GERRITSON is the director of the Park Ridge Community Church Chancel Choir and is a full-time professor at Northeastern Illinois University. She also enjoys an extensive musical career as a soprano soloist.