For Immediate Release: February 8, 2010
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The Esoterics celebrate the 100th birthday of this American Neo-Romantic pioneer “BARBER’S MUSIC FALLS INTELLECTUALLY TO THE MIND AND BEAUTIFULLY ON THE EAR, WHICH IS A RARE COMBINATION”
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"We perform a centennial concert every year and this is an opportunity for our group to diverge from really esoteric works. Barber is audience favorite, but we will also introduce lesser known works by the composer," says Eric Banks, founding director of The Esoterics. "Having an entire program of one composer is esoteric in a different sense: it is not something that other choirs do."
Known for his orchestral and vocal genres, Barber's deep love of poetry and appreciation for the human voice inspired many of his compositions. At age 9, Barber announced he was born to be a composer, and wrote his first opera at age 10. Always self-aware, but never self-indulgent, Barber's works are thoughtful, strikingly beautiful, and represent the very best of 20th-century music.
In this concert, The Esoterics will perform Barber's most famous works, as well as his lesser known compositions for a cappella voices – including the newly published Motetto and God's grandeur, both written in the composer's 20s. The Esoterics will also present a cappella renditions of the accompanied works: Sure on this shining night (1941) and A stopwatch and an ordnance map (1940).
With repertoire ranging over four decades, from his early part-songs setting American poetry, to the sublime choral rendering of his Adagio for strings (entitled Agnus Dei), Barber's choral music is timelessly profound and offers something for everyone.
Please join The Esoterics to celebrate the life and work of this master choral composer.
Saturday 6 March 8:00 PM • Medina
St. Thomas Episcopal Church • 8398 Northeast 12th Street
Sunday 7 March 3:00 PM • Olympia
St. John’s Episcopal Church • 114 20th Ave SE
Thursday 11 March 7:30 PM • Seattle
Plymouth Congregational Church • 1217 6th Avenue
Sunday 14 March 3:00 PM • West Seattle
Holy Rosary Catholic Church • 4139 42nd Ave SW
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
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 seventeenth season with founding director Eric Banks, the ensemble has drawn national and international praise for presenting the many styles that comprise contemporary choral music. In 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2008, The Esoterics’ commitment to innovative concert repertoire was nationally recognized when ASCAP and Chorus America granted the ensemble its coveted 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 BARBER or The Esoterics (media contact only), please contact Scott Kovacs,