MUSIC

The Bay Area Women's Chorus performs a Special Event Concert at the beautiful Moores Opera House on the campus of the University of Houston, presented by The Bay Area Chorus of Greater Houston. Scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 25, the event is a preview of the group's invitational performance at the 56th annual Texas Choral Directors Association Convention in San Antonio the following Saturday. The concert is free and open to the public.

Musical Director Keith Dixon's diverse program includes an American fuging tune recorded by Anonymous 4, a “Hodie” by contemporary composer Joan Szymko, Alice Parker's arrangement of the lilting Irish tune “Sing, Sing” and the classic Rodgers and Hart song, “Isn't It Romantic?” Highlighting the eclectic program is Zoltan Kodaly's song about “Wainamoinen,” Finnish folklore’s god of chants, songs and poetry. The most unique piece to be performed is the avant-garde "Aglepta," a dramatic setting of a 19th century Swedish Trollproverb.

This concert is ideal as a "first concert" for children age 5 and up. In addition to piano, they can hear other accompanying instruments, harp and violin. The performance is less than an hour in length and no two songs are alike. The overall concert experience will be enhanced by the spectacular art of Frank Stella, a prominent feature of the Moores Opera House.

Formed only two years ago, the Bay Area Women's Chorus has become a highly popular partner ensemble to Houston's Bay Area Mixed Chorus, which is also directed by Keith Dixon. The group has quickly earned a reputation for presenting varied and exciting performances featuring the finest repertoire for treble voices. A highlight of this past season was a performance of Rheinberger's Mass in A, with orchestra. The Women's Chorus shares the legacy begun when the Bay Area Chorus was established 46 years ago. One of Houston's oldest non-profit performing organizations, the all-volunteer Bay Area Chorus of Greater Houston has brought heartfelt performances to Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast since 1965.