Dessoff Choirs

Dessoff Choirs

History

The Dessoff Choirs is an independent chorus based in New York City. Margarete Dessoff established the organization in 1930 as the union of two choirs she directed, the Adesdi chorus and the A Cappella Singers, whence the plural Choirs. Today, the plural connotes Dessoff's various ensembles, which range from the large Dessoff Symphonic Choir, which appears with major orchestras, to the smaller Dessoff Chamber Choir, which performs in more intimate settings.

The performance of new, unusual, or rarely-heard works is a central facet of Dessoff's mission. Under Mme. Dessoff's baton, the Dessoff Choirs gave many premieres, including the American premiere of Arnold Schönberg's Friede auf Erden, the first American performance of Orazio Vecchi's L'Amfiparnaso, and the New York premiere of Bach's cantata Christ Lag in Todesbanden. Dessoff's second conductor, Paul Boepple, continued to champion early music, and when he retired after 32 years as musical director, early music had seen its modern renaissance, one in which Dessoff had played a significant role. In 1951, the Desoff Choirs performed with the New York Wind Ensemble at a special Peabody Mason Concert series commemorating the Paris Bi-Millennial year. During Mr. Boepple's tenure, the Choirs released 13 recordings, and his editions were published by Theodore Presser as the Dessoff Choir Series.

From 2005 through 2010, James Bagwell served as the musical director of Dessoff. Under his direction, Dessoff performed several large works not often heard, including Kurt Weill's Berliner Requiem, Paul Hindemith's Apparebit repentina dies, and William Bolcom's The Mask. In addition, Mr. Bagwell expanded Dessoff's repertoire with regard to American music, including in the choir's concerts Sacred Harp music and American music from the 18th and 21st centuries. Dessoff's May, 2009, concert, which included works by Charles Ives and his teacher Horatio Parker, was recorded live and will be released on CD and by mp3 download in early December, 2009. In September, 2009, Mr. Bagwell was named musical director of the Collegiate Chorale.

In June, 2009, the Dessoff Symphonic Choir joined the New York Philharmonic and the New York Choral Artists for seven performances of two programs (Britten's War Requiem and Mahler's Symphony No. 8) marking Lorin Maazel's final concerts as music director of the Philharmonic. Coincidentally, Dessoff also shared the stage at these concerts with its previous music director, Kent Tritle, the Philharmonic's organist.

In November, 2009, the Dessoff Chamber Choir performed songs from The Kinks Choral Collection with Ray Davies on The Late Show with David Letterman and at two Town Hall performances.

In May 2010, Chris Shepard was named as the latest music director of Dessoff.

The Dessoff Choirs 2009-2010 concert series

November 12, 2009, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Ernest Bloch's Sacred Service. Paolo Bordignon (organ), Charles Perry Sprawls (bass-baritone), James Bagwell, conductor

March 6, 2010, Merkin Concert Hall, Kyle Gann's Transcendental Sonnets (New York premiere), Harold Farberman's Talk (world premiere), and Lukas Foss's Psalms. James Bagwell (conductor)

March 28, 2010, Avery Fisher Hall, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer, conductor

May 8, 2010, St. George's Episcopal Church, The Roots of Bach and Beyond. Patrick Dupré Quigley, guest conductor

Dessoff Symphonic Choir recent performances

(2010) Budapest Festival Orchestra, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Avery Fisher Hall, Iván Fischer, conductor (New York Times review)

(2009) New York Philharmonic, Mahler's Symphony No. 8, Avery Fisher Hall, Lorin Maazel, conductor

(2009) New York Philharmonic, Britten's War Requiem, Avery Fisher Hall, Lorin Maazel, conductor

(2009) Mahler's Symphony No. 3, Mahler for the children of AIDS benefit concert, Carnegie Hall, George Mathew, conductor

(2008) American Symphony Orchestra, Rued Langgaard's Music of the Spheres, Avery Fisher Hall, Leon Botstein, conductor

(2006) NHK Symphony Orchestra, Maurice Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé, Carnegie Hall, Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor

(2006) American Symphony Orchestra, Rimsky-Korsakov's Mozart and Salieri, Avery Fisher Hall, Leon Botstein, conductor

(2006) San Francisco Symphony, Charles Ives's Holidays Symphony, Carnegie Hall, Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor

(2005) Tan Dun's Water Passion after St. Matthew, South Street Seaport, Tan Dun, conductor

(2004) Kronos Quartet, Terry Riley's Sun Rings, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Aaron Smith, conductor

(2004) John Tavener's The Veil of the Temple, Avery Fisher Hall, Stephen Layton, conductor

(2004) New York Philharmonic, Charles Ives's Symphony No. 4 and General William Booth Enters into Heaven, Avery Fisher Hall, Alan Gilbert, conductor

External links

• The Dessoff Choirs