The Esoterics perform: Orbit & Oracle, a reimagining of ancient astronomical legends, March 9

Over the last decade and a half, Michael has composed and published a cappella choral works for each of the planets in our solar system and arranged them into a cycle called Planets and gods. These pieces explore the astronomical and mythological aspects of each planet and the deity for which they are named, and examine where science and belief intersect. Here, our 32 singers will channel the meteoric bombast of the gods, follow the gentle sway of the universe on its eternal march and herald the unassailable pre-eminence of the natural order. Planets and gods will be intertwined with a new series of miniatures – a world premier commissioned by The Esoterics - entitled Strange solar system bodies. Each piece of this new cycle focuses on a singular body in our solar system - dwarfs, moons, and asteroids. Some boast an obscure outer appearance, such as: the oval-shaped dwarf-planet Haumea in the outer reaches, the potato-shaped asteroid Bennu, or Mimas - an icy, cratered moon of Saturn that resembles the Star Wars “Death Star”. Ostrzyga captures the features and energies of these “heavenly body” geographies in fascinating blends of musical color. Each Esoterics project is a distinctive and unrepeatable experience, both for performers and our audience-community. This project is no exception, so treat yourself to an evening that will leave you enchanted, delighted and enriched. The Esoterics are SO excited to perform this concert for you. We hope you can join us for this (inter)stellar event! Now at the start of its 32nd season, Seattle’s most innovative chorus has drawn international praise for performing rarely-heard compositions of contemporary music for unaccompanied voices, for infusing elements of the literary, theatrical, and visual arts into the typical concert experience, and for performing settings of poetry, philosophy, and spiritual writings from around the world. Since its founding in 1993, The Esoterics has performed more than 500 concerts throughout the Pacific Northwest, has commissioned and premiered more than 250 new works for a cappella voices in dozens of languages, and has mastered the most virtuosic choral compositions of the last century. The Esoterics has released twenty-one CD recordings – several which have been favorably reviewed in The Gramophone and American Record Guide. The ensemble has toured to England, Ireland, Wales, Finland, Spain, and Portugal, and has been featured in the BBC Radio program “The Choir.” Always on the search for the next great choral masterpiece, The Esoterics inaugurated its annual choral composition competition, POLYPHONOS, in 2006. In recognition for its efforts in choral innovation, The Esoterics has been honored five times with the ASCAP / Chorus America Award for the Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music (in 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2017). The Esoterics is a proud member of the American Choral Director’s Association, Chorus America, and the International Federation for Choral Music.

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2904960-0

Facebook: https://go.evvnt.com/2904960-2

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