In this week's episode, I share a story about singing Dominick Argento's music under Dale Warland's baton in the Minnesota Beethoven Festival Chorale.
Reflecting on my experience from singing in last year's Beethoven Festival Chorale, I have a hard time putting it in words. I laughed and cried, often spending hours in awe watching Dale Warland transform the score into art. But what really struck me was his honesty and transparency when I asked him to talk about conducting Dominick Argento's music. Warland said, "When I study it at the keyboard, I wonder are we going to be able to really make these pieces sing, but when you add voices to the score, there is magic that takes place, it's just incredible."
I can attest to the magic Dale Warland speaks of. I got to experience it first-hand when we premiered Seasons, a set of four pieces that Argento dedicated to Warland.
One of those pieces was originally dedicated to Dr. Michael McGaghie, who is considered to be one of the world's leading experts on Dominick Argento. I recently spoke with Dr. McGaghie, whose dissertation on Argento won 2010 Julius Herford Prize for outstanding dissertation in choral music, and he said that "one of the most profound things about Dale and Dominick's relationship is the deep admiration and respect for each other's work."
I couldn't agree more with Dr. McGaghie. Dale and Dominick's bond is emotional and spiritual, one that conductors and composers around the world should look to for inspiration.
I hate that I won't be singing Argento's Walden Pond with the Festival Chorale this year, but I am sure it will be just as magical as I remember it.
To hear the complete story about Warland and Argento and the 2015 Minnesota Beethoven Festival Chorale in this week's episode of Sing to Inspire, click the audio player above.
#SingToInspire Performance of the Week
Walden Pond: No. 1. The Pond
The Dale Warland Singers
Dominick Argento, composer
Dale Warland, conductor
#SingToInspire Photos of the Week
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