The St. Cecilia Chorus & Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The St. Cecilia Chorus was founded in 1906 as a women's chorus by Metropolitan Opera
coach Victor Harris
. Since then, the Chorus has evolved into one of the finest non-professional performing arts organizations in New York City
, and has left its mark on American musical history. The Chorus also regularly performs with professional soloists and full orchestras.
In 1922, while still a women's group, the Chorus gained significant recognition when it appeared with The Philharmonic Society of New York under Willem Mengelberg
, in the first New York performance of Mahler's Third Symphony
. Since then, the Chorus has given world and U.S. premieres of more than sixty works, by composers including Mrs. H.H.A. Beach, Deems Taylor
, and Virgil Thompson
.
1959 saw a momentous event when David Randolph substituted for then-Director David Buttolph
at one October rehearsal. In 1965, when Mr. Buttolph resigned, the Chorus recalled how much they had enjoyed making music with Mr. Randolph, and invited him to become their conductor. He has occupied the St. Cecilia podium ever since, and has established an uncompromising standard of musical excellence and a commitment to progressive development.
Under David Randolph's direction, the Chorus grew in size and ability, and in 1969, met the challenge of its first concert in Carnegie Hall
. In addition to its now traditional twice-yearly Carnegie Hall concerts, some of which were broadcast live on WNYC Radio, the Chorus has appeared in other venues, including Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. It has performed with such other noted conductors as Lukas Foss
, John Alldis
, John Nelson
, Romano Gandolfi (La Scala), Peter Tiboris, and Eve Queler
(Opera Orchestra of New York).
A smash hit of the 1980 Broadway season was Amadeus, which was later made into a critically acclaimed movie. In April 1981, prompted by the popularity of the play, The St. Cecilia Chorus performed a program in Carnegie Hall which featured the U.S. premiere of Antonio Salieri's Mass No. 1
, juxtaposed with Mozart's "Great" Mass in C minor
. The program was broadcast on WNYC. Amadeus author Peter Shaffer was in attendance and made a short speech from the stage of Carnegie Hall.
In December 1986, also in Carnegie Hall, the Chorus presented the North American premiere of a significant work by a talented but neglected female composer: "Oratorium nach Bildern der Bibel" by Fanny Mendelssohn
, Felix Mendelssohn's sister.
During his 37 years with The Masterwork Chorus, Mr. Randolph developed a specialty as a conductor of Handel's "Messiah"
with The Masterwork Chorus, and his much-acclaimed interpretation of that beloved masterpiece became a seasonal tradition in New York City. In 1995, Mr. Randolph directed The St. Cecilia Chorus in "Messiah" for its very first time, much to the joy of the chorus members and audience. Its two 1995 "Messiah" performances at Carnegie Hall were a notable success, and by popular demand the work was brought back for two successive performances on December 20th, 1997.
In 1993, members of the Chorus made a recording with Liza Minnelli
for the benefit of AIDS research. In 1996, a small group of Chorus members appeared as Christmas carolers in The Preacher's Wife, a major motion picture starring Whitney Houston
and Denzel Washington
.
Randolph died in 2011, and was replaced by his substitute conductor, Mark Shapiro.
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
coach Victor Harris
Victor Harris (composer)
Victor Harris was an American composer, conductor, and music educator. He was one of the first staff members at the Metropolitan Opera where he worked as a vocal coach beginning in 1893. He notably founded The St. Cecilia Chorus & Orchestra in New York City.-References:...
. Since then, the Chorus has evolved into one of the finest non-professional performing arts organizations in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and has left its mark on American musical history. The Chorus also regularly performs with professional soloists and full orchestras.
In 1922, while still a women's group, the Chorus gained significant recognition when it appeared with The Philharmonic Society of New York under Willem Mengelberg
Willem Mengelberg
Joseph Willem Mengelberg was a Dutch conductor, famous for his performances of Mahler and Strauss with the Concertgebouw Orchestra.- Biography :...
, in the first New York performance of Mahler's Third Symphony
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
. Since then, the Chorus has given world and U.S. premieres of more than sixty works, by composers including Mrs. H.H.A. Beach, Deems Taylor
Deems Taylor
Joseph Deems Taylor was a U.S. composer, music critic, and promoter of classical music.-Career:Taylor initially planned to become an architect; however, despite minimal musical training he soon took to music composition. The result was a series of works for orchestra and/or voices...
, and Virgil Thompson
Virgil Thompson
Virgil Thompson is an American author. Her first published novel was the 2002 crime drama Final Things: A Novel of Suspense. She lives in Connecticut.-Bibliography:...
.
1959 saw a momentous event when David Randolph substituted for then-Director David Buttolph
David Buttolph
David Buttolph was a film composer who scored over 300 movies in his career. Born in New York City, Buttolph showed musical talent at an early age, and eventually studied music formally...
at one October rehearsal. In 1965, when Mr. Buttolph resigned, the Chorus recalled how much they had enjoyed making music with Mr. Randolph, and invited him to become their conductor. He has occupied the St. Cecilia podium ever since, and has established an uncompromising standard of musical excellence and a commitment to progressive development.
Under David Randolph's direction, the Chorus grew in size and ability, and in 1969, met the challenge of its first concert in Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. In addition to its now traditional twice-yearly Carnegie Hall concerts, some of which were broadcast live on WNYC Radio, the Chorus has appeared in other venues, including Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. It has performed with such other noted conductors as Lukas Foss
Lukas Foss
Lukas Foss was a German-born American composer, conductor, and pianist.-Music career:He was born Lukas Fuchs in Berlin, Germany in 1922. His father was the philosopher and scholar Martin Fuchs...
, John Alldis
John Alldis
John Alldis was an English chorus-master and conductor.After his education at Felsted, Alldis studied as a choral scholar under Boris Ord at King's College, Cambridge, from 1949 to 1952....
, John Nelson
John Nelson (conductor)
John Wilton Nelson is an American conductor. Nelson studied at Wheaton College, and later at the Juilliard School of Music with Jean Morel ....
, Romano Gandolfi (La Scala), Peter Tiboris, and Eve Queler
Eve Queler
Eve Queler is an American conductor and the current Artistic Director of the Opera Orchestra of New York . She founded the OONY in 1971 after having worked on the staffs of the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera....
(Opera Orchestra of New York).
A smash hit of the 1980 Broadway season was Amadeus, which was later made into a critically acclaimed movie. In April 1981, prompted by the popularity of the play, The St. Cecilia Chorus performed a program in Carnegie Hall which featured the U.S. premiere of Antonio Salieri's Mass No. 1
Antonio Salieri
Antonio Salieri was a Venetian classical composer, conductor and teacher born in Legnago, south of Verona, in the Republic of Venice, but who spent his adult life and career as a faithful subject of the Habsburg monarchy....
, juxtaposed with Mozart's "Great" Mass in C minor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
. The program was broadcast on WNYC. Amadeus author Peter Shaffer was in attendance and made a short speech from the stage of Carnegie Hall.
In December 1986, also in Carnegie Hall, the Chorus presented the North American premiere of a significant work by a talented but neglected female composer: "Oratorium nach Bildern der Bibel" by Fanny Mendelssohn
Fanny Mendelssohn
Fanny Cäcilie Mendelssohn , later Fanny Hensel, was a German pianist and composer, the sister of the composer Felix Mendelssohn and granddaughter of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn...
, Felix Mendelssohn's sister.
During his 37 years with The Masterwork Chorus, Mr. Randolph developed a specialty as a conductor of Handel's "Messiah"
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
with The Masterwork Chorus, and his much-acclaimed interpretation of that beloved masterpiece became a seasonal tradition in New York City. In 1995, Mr. Randolph directed The St. Cecilia Chorus in "Messiah" for its very first time, much to the joy of the chorus members and audience. Its two 1995 "Messiah" performances at Carnegie Hall were a notable success, and by popular demand the work was brought back for two successive performances on December 20th, 1997.
In 1993, members of the Chorus made a recording with Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
for the benefit of AIDS research. In 1996, a small group of Chorus members appeared as Christmas carolers in The Preacher's Wife, a major motion picture starring Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
and Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
.
Randolph died in 2011, and was replaced by his substitute conductor, Mark Shapiro.
External links and Press
- St.Cecilia Chorus Website
- Carnegie Hall Official Website
- St. Cecilia Chorus Collection of Sound Recordings, 1967- Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound. New York Public Library.
May 5, 2002 Home News Tribune David Randolph Creates Music Magic April 28, 2002 ClassicsToday.com St. Cecilia Triumphs in Rachmaninov and Orff Winter 2002 ChorusAmerica.org Choral Music at Ground Zero December 21, 2001 New York Post Tree & Symphony May 26 - June 1, 2001 New Yorker Staats-Zeitung Beethoven's Ninth: Elegant and Noble