Chanticleer is a 36-year-old, San Francisco-based ensemble. The New Yorker called them “the world’s reigning male chorus.”
Orphenians is a 56-year-old elite choir at Staples. Director Luke Rosenberg is working hard to make them the world’s reigning a cappella chorus — at least, at the high school level.
Orphenians director Luke Rosenberg. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
On Wednesday, Chanticleer visited Darien High School for a choral festival. Participating were their hosts, plus choirs from Staples, Westhill-Stamford and Brewster Highs.
It was a long, intense but joyful day. First, everyone rehearsed 2 pre-selected pieces as a mass choir, under the direction of Chanticleer’s musical director.
Each high school choir then performed its own selected repertoire, for the other schools to enjoy. Next came Orphenians’ special 90-minute workshop with 3 members of Chanticleer.
The evening concert showed off each individual choir. Finally, Chanticleer combined with all several hundred students for 2 tutti numbers: Monteverdi’s “Si Ch’io vorrei morire” and Andre Thomas’ “Rockin’ Jerusalem.”
Here’s an iPhone recording of Orphenians performing “Tap-Tap.” You can hear the group live at Staples, later this spring.
(If your browser does not take you directly to YouTube, click here.)
Excellent. What a great sound.
Wonderful! Thanks, Dan….Worth noting too, that Steven Sametz, an Orph from early 70s has collaborated since the late 80s with Chanticleer….both groups, Orphenians and Chanticleer can boast of debuting commissioned work by Sametz. The ’81 group performed a Psalm setting on our Europe tour.
Wow – great info, Doug. Thanks!