Ars Nova Singers, Stratus Chamber Orchestra present ‘Music that Connects’

By Peter Alexander Oct. 4 at 1:50 p.m.

Have you ever been stranded in an airport between flights?

Stratus Chamber Orchestra, David Rutherford, conductor

If so, Boulder’s Ars Nova Singers and Denver’s Stratus Ensemble have a musical program for your playlist. “Intermezzo! Music that Connects” will be performed Friday and Saturday (Oct. 4 and 5) in Denver, and Sunday afternoon (Oct. 6) in Boulder.

“Intermezzo” features works written to connect scenes in operas, or to make other types of connections. The Intermezzo from Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, the “Humming Chorus” from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Mozart’s Regina Caeli (Queen of heaven), could be part of a playlist for stranded travelers.

But they are great works of music as well, as are the other works on the program. Conducting will be shared by David Rutherford, conductor of Stratus, who will lead pieces with orchestra; Tom Morgan, musical director of Ars Nova; and Ars Nova’s assistant director, Brian Dukeshier, who will lead one piece.

The Mascagni and Puccini works are theatrical intermezzos, linking acts of operas. Regina Caeli is a hymn that is part of Vespers, the Roman Catholic evening service that connects day to night. The other major work on the program is Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, a setting of poems by Robert Frost; here the meaningful connection is between the music and Frost’s poetry.

Other works on the program include four a capella works to be sung by Ars Nova. Stratus will open the concert with movements from the Serenade for Strings by Norwegian composer Dag Wirén, music you may recognize even if you don’t know the title.

Read more in Boulder Weekly.

# # # # #

Intermezzo! Music that Connects
Ars Nova Singers, Thomas Edward Morgan, director, with
Stratus Chamber Orchestra, David Rutherford, conductor

7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct 4, First Plymouth Congregational Church, 3502 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oc.t 5,Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver
4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, First United Methodist Church, 1421 Spruce, St, Boulder

Tickets here or call 303-388-4962