Press Release: Consortium Carissimi Will Present Charpentier’s Te Deum and Vivaldi’s Gloria

ST PAUL, MN

As its second offering of season nine, Consortium Carissimi will present Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Te Deum as well as the well-known Gloria of Antonio Vivaldi on Friday, January 1st, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 3rd, at 2 p.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel, on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas, located on block west of the intersection of Grand Avenue and Cretin Avenue South.

“In what has now become tradition, Consortium Carissimi offers the Twin Cities an occasion to hear brilliant trumpet segments in two great works of the early and late baroque period. In many countries and cultures, it is common to sing this Te Deum canticle on January 1st,” said Garrick Comeaux, Artistic Director of Consortium Carissimi.

Carissimi’s most famous student of composition was undoubtedly the Frenchman, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, and among his many well-known works is his grand polyphonic motet Te Deum (H. 146)—best known for the great trumpet part in the Prelude. This baroque trumpet became widely used in Italy in the late 17th century in Bologna, quickly replacing the cornetto which had gone into disuse.

Featuring Kris Kwapis on baroque trumpet and Douglas Shambo II as bass soloist for the Te Deum, as well as contralto Lisa Drew as soloist in the Gloria, the Consortium will be led by special guest conductor, Kathy Saltzman Romey.

Kathy Saltzman Romey is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Minnesota, where she oversees the graduate program in choral conducting and conducts choirs. She is also Artistic Director of the 200-voice symphonic chorus, The Minnesota Chorale, which serves as principal chorus for the Minnesota Orchestra.

“I am so pleased to collaborate with Consortium Carissimi on this special Epiphany program. I find the music of Vivaldi and Charpentier to be a fitting and festive entry into the New Year, offering the listener moments of both reflection and celebration,” said Romey.

Singers include: Angela Grundstad, Heather Cogswell, Anna Christopharo, Lisa Drew, David Lee Echelard, Clara Osowski, Roy Heilman, Mike Pettman, Craig Lemming, Garrick Comeaux, Eric Erlandson, Douglas Shambo II and Eric Sorum. Instrumentalists include: Kris Kwapis, trumpet; Stanly King, oboe I; Ellen Rider, oboe II; Alan Kolderie, flute I; Brian Krysinki, flute II; Marc Levine, violin; Ginna Watson, violin; Elizabeth York, viola; Julie Elhard, violoncello; Paul Berget, archlute; Garrett Lahr, baroque trombone; Sara Thompson, violone; Bruce Jacobs, harpsichord; Don Livingston, organ; and Lawrence Barnhart, timpani.

Minnesota Public Radio may take $5 off the general admission or senior ticket price by using promotional code MPR5.   Tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vivaldis-gloria-charpentiers-te-deum-tickets-18849441186

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Consortium Carissimi was founded in Rome, Italy in 1996 by Garrick Comeaux, Artistic Director, with the aim of presenting the sacred and secular music of early Roman Baroque. As well as works by Carissimi, the ensemble also performs pieces by his contemporaries. Consortium Carissimi also devotes much of its research and concert activity to composers such as Graziani, Rossi, Pasquini and Sances, thus providing a clearer picture of the extraordinary effervescence that existed in the music world during the early Baroque period in Rome.

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