If you no longer want to receive our e-mails, you may unsubscribe here. Join ÆDONIS for EXPECTO: Songs of optimism and hope In 2004, Eric Banks formed a small ensemble of singers from the Seattle Men’s Chorus with the express purpose of singing a cappella choral works written by gay and lesbian composers throughout history. Originally, ÆDONIS was a joint venture between the SMC and The Esoterics, the ensemble Banks founded in 1993. In 2008, The Esoterics became ÆDONIS’ official home and the two ensembles have begun an auspicious relationship. To celebrate its new status, ÆDONIS will perform EXPECTO, its first concert series as part of The Esoterics’ 2008 season. The sixteen singers will offer a program of choral music by gay composers, one that revolves around the theme of expectation: anticipation of news from afar, optimism of a reunion between loved ones, and the hope for justice, solace, or healing at day's end. ÆDONIS will perform several of its favorite works from past seasons, including Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ethereal Solovushko, Franz Schubert’s dreamlike Mondenschein, Camille Saint-Saëns' ecstatic Calme des nuits, Benjamin Britten’s stately Concord, Bern Herbolsheimer's captivating Love letters, and Donald Skirvin's shimmering cycle of poems by Hart Crane: Yet, love endures. In addition to these works, ÆDONIS will perform David Conte’s setting of the enchanting Robert Herrick poem Charm me asleep, as well as the world premiere of a new work by director Eric Banks, a setting of Sanskrit verses in a choral homage to the Hindu goddess of music, learning, and culture: Sarasvati. ÆDONIS is also proud to present a world premiere piece by Scott Perkins, one of this year’s winners of POLYPHONOS, The Esoterics’ annual composition competition. Perkins’ A word out of the sea, a setting of verses from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of grass, earned the composer the BMI Student Composer Award for the piece in 2004, but the work was never performed. EXPECTO is also a special performance for ÆDONIS because they will reprise much of the program for the National Festival of the Gay & Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) this July. Don't miss this uplifting program of men’s a cappella singing at its finest! ÆDONIS' EXPECTO performance dates and locations are as follows: Saturday, 10 May • 7:00pm • Lynnwood Trinity Lutheran Church • 6215 196th St. SW Sunday, 11 May • 3:00pm • Tacoma Trinity Lutheran Church • 12115 Park Ave S Saturday, 17 May • 8:00pm • West Seattle Holy Rosary Catholic Church • 4139 42nd Ave SW Sunday, 18 May • 3:00pm • Seattle Queen Anne Christian Church • 1316 3rd Ave W 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 www.TheEsoterics.org or www.aedonis.org (through PayPal.com), or reserved by phone at 206.935.7779. This e-mail was sent to you because you are on The Esoterics' mailing list. If you no longer want to receive our e-mails, you may unsubscribe here. Make sure our mail reaches you: add info@TheEsoterics.org to your address book. The Esoterics info@TheEsoterics.org