Sunday, December 5th, 2004
The Mystery of Bells and Roses

The mystery of Christmas has long been translated for us with symbols, two beautiful ones being bells and roses. This wonderful seasonal concert will include two settings of O Magnum Mysterium, the well-known Ukrainian Carol of the Bells, Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata, and the fiendishly difficult Swingel Bells. There will be an audience sing-along as everyone joins the Camerata singers in some traditional carols.

Sunday, April 10th, 2005
Let us tell you a story . . .

As we get ready for spring, we curl up by the fire and hear stories told the old fashioned way – through music. This concert features Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, a musical rendition of Robert Frost’s poetry, Irish poems set to music by Samuel Barber, and ends with a rollicking version of Louis Carroll’s Jabberwocky composed by Sam Pottle.

Sunday, June 12th, 2005
Showtime Through the Ages

Camerata returns to Broadway with popular show tunes through the ages. Included will be an exciting combination of Shakespearean texts which have been written as jazz harmonies by the great George Shearing. The concert also features selections from All That Jazz, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell and other Broadway hits. The concert concludes with selections from Lucy Simon’s Secret Garden.

Sunday, November 20th, 2005
Due North

‘Due North’ features the music of Canadian composers. Conductor (and Canadian!) Julia Davids will share some of her favorite Canadian choral music. The first half of the program will include standard lyrics set in a uniquely Canadian fashion, such as Cantor Srul Irving Glick’s Avinu Malkeinu. Latvian Canadian Imant Raminsch’s lush setting of Ave Verum compliments selections from Toronto native Eleanor Daley’s Requiem. Next, we invite you to explore the diverse geography of Canada with the avant-garde MikMaq Honour Song, folk songs from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland as well as British Columbian Stephen Chatman’s delightful Due North collection. Set your compass and travel ‘Due North’ with the Camerata Singers!

Sunday, January 29th, 2006
From Spiritual to Spirituals

From the earliest times, human beings have been aware of the transcendent qualities of music – whatever our belief systems, music has the power to move is in ways that words alone cannot. Set in a beautiful church, this program of the spiritual and Negro spirituals opens with the traditional and quickly departs. Three favorite settings of the Ave Maria text will resound in the fine acoustic – from the Spanish Renaissance composer Vittoria, to the dark Russian masterpiece of Rachmaninoff to the soaring chant-based classic by Franz Biebl, made famous by Chanticleer. Tavener’s ethereal Song for Athene is best known from its performance at the funeral of Princess Diana. With a rapid change of sound, we will finish the concert with a number of settings of both moving and rousing spirituals including Fleming’s Three About Jesus and Halloran’s Witness.

Sunday, April 9th, 2006
Due South

As the days get longer and the sun appears, we redirect our compass ‘Due South’ for an exploration of the music of the Southern Hemisphere. Sacred music will include Salmo 150 by Brazilian Ernani Aguiar as well as sacred harp and gospel music from the American South. Stephen Hatfield’s African Celebration mixes English and Zulu texts in an intricate, passionate plea for unity. From the stirring dance rhythms of Verano Porteno by Argentinean Astor Piazzolla to the laid back Jamaican Marketplace by Larry Farrow, the Camerata Singers promise you a sun filled afternoon of great music!

Sunday, June 11th, 2006
A Few of Our Favorite Things!

Back by popular demand, the Camerata Singers will share some of their favorite show tunes. You will hear exciting performances by soloists and small ensembles from within the choir. The full chorus will sing numbers from The Sound of Music, Carousel, Into the Woods, Candide and so many more! Anything Goes when the singers get to choose ‘A Few of Our Favorite Things’!.

Sunday, December 7th, 2003
Christmas Journeys

Take a musical journey through many countries and centuries as we celebrate the Christmas holidays. Hear the works of Praetorius, Hassler and Bruch of Germany, Sweelinck of the Netherlands, Playford and Walton of Great Britain and Rossini of Italy. The program concludes with America’s Craig Courtney’s Musicological Journey through the Twelve Day of Christmas.

Sunday, February 15th, 2004
Music of the Spirit

The singers join 4 hands at the piano to present heavenly music to feed the soul. Featured is Psalms by Lukas Foss and a world premiere of O Source of Peace by our own Wayland Rogers. The program also includes Funeral Ikos, a group of powerful spirituals by John Tavener done in the style of Russian Orthodox.

Sunday, April 18th, 2004
The Romantic Era

We will be presenting the works of Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Bruch, Bizet, Rossini, Dvorak, Elgar, Parry, and Stanford as representative of the wonderful romantic movement in music that took place in the 19th century. This concert will be performed at the magnificent Cuneo Estate in Vernon Hills.

Sunday, June 13th, 2004
Folksong in Concert

Folk songs flourished for centuries without being written down. We will present some of the songs there were collected/composed by Johannes Brahms and Bela Bartok. Also included will be Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs and various folksongs from the British Isles.

Sunday, December 3rd, 2006
A Very Camerata Christmas

We begin the season with a wonderfully eclectic mix of Christmas music, Camerata style! German baroque composer Hasse’s delightful Magnificat will feature soloists and pianist Janet Eckhardt. Two contemporary carols by women composers are sure to touch your hearts. Traditional carols with a new twist include Deck the Halls (in 7/8) and Silent Night as recorded by the Singers Unlimited. And it wouldn’t be Christmas with Camerata without carols from other countries, spirituals and a little jazz! Let us wish you “A Very Camerata Christmas!”

Sunday, February 11th, 2007
Love, Love, Love . . . .

Featuring baroque violinist Martin Davids and the Callipygian Players on period instruments
Music Director Julia Davids joins with her ‘love’, husband and baroque violinst Martin Davids, for this much-anticipated program showcasing the various sides of love. Explore spiritual love through Monteverdi’s exciting Dixit Dominus for choir, soloists, two violins and continuo. Love is often reflected in nature with Mulholland’s Red, Red Rose and the two Irish airs O Danny Boy and My Lagan Love. Our love for one another has been eloquently expressed in songs by Billy Joel, Gershwin and others. The Camerata Singers demonstrate their love for singing for you with this passionate program.

Sunday, June 10th, 2007
"Til the Fat Lady Sings!!

In great Camerata tradition, the Singers will share some of their favorite music from opera, operetta and musical theatre. You will hear exciting performances by soloists and small ensembles from within the choir. The full chorus will sing numbers from Purcell’s King Arthur, Bizet’s Carmen, Offenbach’s La Jolie Parfumeuse and Verdi’s Nabucco and La Traviata. Enjoy the lighter side of opera with Camerata – the fun won’t be over until the proverbial Fat Lady sings!