With a touring tradition that dates back to its founding in 1933, the Gustavus Choir has built a legacy of integrating fine choral singing, music education, and music appreciation into its programs and concert appearances on and off the campus. With this continuing history of excellence, built on its experience of international concert touring that began in 1967, the Gustavus Choir is adding to its musical legacy as it prepares to depart for London on January 16, for its first-ever concert tour in Great Britain and France. With eight concerts over 16 days, the Choir and Conductor Gregory Aune will present its 2015 program in some of the finest concert venues and cathedrals in Europe.
The Gustavus Choir maintains an annual touring schedule throughout the continental United States with international tour opportunities every four years. Since its first international tour in 1967, the Choir has appeared at cathedrals, cultural centers, and conservatories in Scandinavia, Russia, Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal, Asia, and South Africa. The Choir also toured Italy in 2003 and 2011, participating in Mass at the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano, Rome; the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence; the Basilica Inferiore of S. Francesco, Assisi; and the Basilica di San Marco, Venice.
In its 83-year choral history, the a cappella ensemble has performed for the King and Queen of Sweden several times, premiered commissioned works of noted composers including Eric Whitacre, Stephen Paulus, David Cherwin, Imant Raminsh, and Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, and presented concert programs at both state and regional choral conventions.
Preparation for the Choir’s international tour begins early in January with two busy weeks filled with morning classes and two-a-day rehearsals. Each morning, Professor of English (and Minnesota Poet Laureate) Joyce Sutphen leads the January Term course covering the literature of these great cultures along with history and current events, politics, and language. Following a short break for lunch, Conductor Aune brings the Choir back to work at its home in Björling Recital Hall for the first of its two daily rehearsals.
On Friday, the Choir will begin the adventure of this life-changing experience with its flight to London, the first stop on the tour. Sixteen days later, it will conclude the tour in Paris after presenting the following concerts:
- January 19, 5 p.m., Evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England
- January 20, 6:30 p.m., Concert at Grosvenor Chapel, London, England
- January 21, 6:30 p.m., Concert at St. Michael’s Church, Bath, England
- January 23, 7 p.m., Concert at St. Edward’s Church, Cardiff, Wales
- January 24, 7:30 p.m., Concert with the Flint Welsh Male Voice Choir, Flint, North East Wales
- January 25, 6 p.m., Evensong at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford upon Avon, England
- January 26, 1 p.m., Concert at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, England
- January 29, 11 a.m., Concert at Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Paris, Paris, France
- January 30, 4 p.m., Concert at L’église de la Madeleine, Paris, France
To promote the Choir, Ireland’s Choralscape radio broadcast on January 5 included the Gustavus Choir’s recording of Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s “Double, Double, Toil & Trouble” from the ACDA performance in February 2014. On Sunday, January 18, BBC Radio in Wales will broadcast selections from the Choir’s most recent recording, “Be With Us,” and a live interview of Dr. Aune with one of the members of the Choir.
On its return to the States. the Gustavus Choir will present its annual Home Concert in Christ Chapel. That performance is scheduled for Saturday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and the performance is open to the public.
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