Symphonic A Cappella: Grand Repertoire for Voices

We continue our SwedenTNT series by recreating the experience of 1915. In 1915 the Swedish Pavilion at PPIE presented concerts by the Union of Swedish Singers, from many parts of the US. Choral singing (both a cappella and accompanied) is a great tradition in Sweden. It is from that tradition that the Grammy award winning San Francisco Symphony Chorus Director Ragnar Bohlin springs. Last year he handpicked 33 local master singers for his professional American chamber choir Cappella SF, whose inaugural season resulted in grand acclaim and two CDs. A debut recording of Christmas music will be available in September of this year.

This new chorus creates the magic of a cappella music from all stylistic periods composed of pieces with many parts and using the medium of voices orchestrally, achieving a glorious sustained quality while teasing out clarity within complex musical fabrics. This concert will be performed in the historical Mission Dolores Basilica, San Francisco. The program includes classical jewels by Gabrieli, Bach, and Strauss, as well as favorites from last year’s concerts by Rheinberger and Penderecki and new American gems (musical “novagems”) by Elliott Encarnación (a tenor in the ensemble) and Cappella SF’s Composer in Residence David Conte, concluding with the dramatic 16-part piece by Swedish composer Ingvar Lidholm.