Performance History

2007 CHORAL FESTIVAL – Carmina Burana and Faustian scenes at Hochstein Performance Hall on July 28 and 29; Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Chautauqua Institution on August 18.

The audience sprang to its feet even before the roof-raising final chord of Boito's Mefistofele ceased reverberating through the Hall. Comments like: the best, the most exciting, amazing, exhilarating concert they ever heard. One woman in the audience said that it was even better than chocolate! Better than chocolate and the fourth year in a row to perform at magnificent Chautauqua Institution. How can you top that!!

2006 CHORAL FESTIVAL – Beethoven and Mozart

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Saturday, July 8, with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, to celebrate the opening of the new state of the art CMAC Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua.

Mozart Grand Mass in C Minor, Saturday, July 29, at Chautauqua Institution, with an additional performance on Thursday, July 27, at Hochstein Performance Hall in Rochester.

Not only did we have the privilege of performing at the RPO's inaugural concert at the brand spanking new spectacular 5000 seat Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua, we performed at Chautauqua Institution again. This was our third year in a row to be invited to perform at this idyllic summer oasis of art and culture.

Interesting factoid: with combined CMAC and Chautauqua audiences totaling over 7,000 in 2006, the Choral Festival has performed before almost 20,000 concert goers in just four short years.

2005 CHORAL FESTIVAL – Verdi Requiem at Chautauqua Institution

After stirring performances of the Brahms Requiem at Chautauqua Institution in 2004 (see comments below) and the Verdi Requiem with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center in 2003, it was a challenge to come up with a program to match these exhilarating experiences - - but we did!

It was a day few will forget, with an afternoon rehearsal in the historic Amphitheater, surrounded by brilliant sunshine with temperatures in the upper 70's, followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner for singers and their guests in the Victorian spendor of the Athenaeum Hotel, an hour or two for a leisurely stroll on the timeless Institution grounds, an then a magnificent performance under the sparkling stars over crystal clear Chautauqua Lake.

Nearly 300 voices of the combined Finger Lakes Choral Festival and Rochester Oratorio Society shimmered in the night air with the haunting strains of "Requiem aeternum" and then exploded into the roof-raising "Dies irae," thrilling the audience of over 4000 appreciative music lovers. Glowing comments abounded afer a performance, under the direction of internatonally acclaimed conductor Uri Segal, that was nothing less thanspectacular.

As reviewed by the Chautauquan Daily: "This vibrant and beautiful performance of Verdi's masterpiece will rank as the outstanding event of this summer's Chautauqua Symphony season."
To read the complete review, click on the "Photos" link below.

2004 CHORAL FESTIVAL – Brahms Requiem with the RPO and at Chautauqua

"Peak experience" and other superlatives were in the air at the conclusion of the 2004 Finger Lakes Choral Festival. After an inspirational performance of the Brahms Requiem on July 25, with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, we didn't think there could be a more exciting encore - - but we were wrong!

On July 31, the chorus traveled to historic Chautauqua Institution for a repeat performance as part of a 465 voice massed chorus of singers from the Choral Festival, symphony choruses from Buffalo and Erie, and a Chautauqua regional chorus. The legendary Chautauqua Amphitheater drew an audience of well over 4,000. Now that was an experience we won't soon forget!

2003 CHORAL FESTIVAL – Debut performance: Verdi Requiem with the RPO

The newly formed Finger Lakes Choral Festival created an instantaneous sensation on the local music scene by drawing together 200 singers from over 50 regional communities, including visitors from a dozen states and countries, to stage a rousing performance of Verdi's great masterpiece at the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.