Haunting and beautiful harmonies of modern master composers Arvo Pärt, John Tavener and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki were performed by the Pasadena Master Chorale on March 21 and 22, 2015. Singer and writer Lauri D. Goldenhersh, of singer networking website www.laurislist.net, wrote a review entitled Heaven in SoCal: Modern choral with Pasadena Master Chorale. Below is an excerpt:
Finally, the concert finished with Górecki’s Totus Tuus, the piece that drew me to the program and did not disappoint. Written in 1987, this unforgettable work encapsulates a period of overwhelming transition and rebirth in the Polish composer’s homeland. The piece’s wild shifts of sentiment and texture are part of a jubilant song of a world rising above turmoil and challenge and exploring the whole range of human triumph, even the sadness that must be part of every thoughtful victory.
What was amazing to watch throughout the concert was the way the chorale sang their hearts out, even in the more reserved selections. The singers were completely engaged focused on Bernstein’s leadership. This is a community-based ensemble, but this almost symbiotic partnership between conductor and musicians is the key to their success, resulting in the same level of intention and commitment to excellence ostensibly found in a group of professionals
[Sources: press release, pasadenamasterchorale.org, laurislist.net]