Melodia's Spring 2017 concerts features the U.S. premiere of John Rutter's new work "Visions" for treble voices & violin solo, with violinist Areta Zhulla

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA, April 17, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Melodia Women's Choir of New York's spring 2017 concerts feature a program of all-British choral music, with a U.S. premiere by John Rutter, a rare performance of a work by Welsh 20th century composer Grace Williams, and a women's choir favorite, Gustav Holst's Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda."

Melodia Women’s Choir, New York’s premier ensemble for women’s choral music conducted by Cynthia Powell, continues its 14th season with Awakening the Spirit in a soaring concert featuring the U.S. premiere of John Rutter’s “Visions.” Written by Rutter as a showcase for violin and choir, “Visions” is a powerful work that examines the spiritual, religious, and historic importance of Jerusalem as a symbol of “a utopian ideal of heavenly peace and seraphic bliss for redeemed humanity” in four movements. Melodia is excited to work with accomplished violin soloist Areta Zhulla, along with harpist Rita Costanzi, and an all-female string quintet.

Also on the program is “The Dancers” from Wales’s most notable female composer, Grace Williams (1906-1977), and “Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda” by Gustav Holst (1874–1934).

“To say that I’m excited about this music would be an understatement,” says Artistic Director Cynthia Powell. “To be able to offer the U.S. premiere of a new work by John Rutter is a thrilling thing in and of itself, but to bring to life the gorgeous choral suite “The Dancers” by Grace Williams.... Add to that the exquisite playing of violinist Areta Zhulla, and we have a knockout concert.”

PERFORMERS
Melodia Women’s Choir led by Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director, Areta Zhulla (violin), Rita Costanzi (harp), and an all-female string quintet.

John Rutter “Visions” U.S. Premiere
Grace Williams “The Dancers”
Gustav Holst “Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda”

ABOUT MELODIA
With more than a decade of adventurous, fresh and wide-ranging repertoire that offers rarely heard, stylistically diverse works, Melodia has established a reputation as the premier women’s choir of NYC. Called “riveting” by The New York Times and hailed by composers such as Meredith Monk, Hilary Tann and Ronald Perera, Melodia is also committed to nurturing emerging women composers through commissions and performances. Founded by Executive Director Jenny Clarke and Artistic Director Cynthia Powell in 2003, Melodia collaborates with and supports women composers, musicians and performers across a broad musical spectrum.
www.melodiawomenschoir.org

ABOUT ARETA ZHULLA
Praised by critics for her “rare emotional sensitivity and internal articulation,” Greek violinist Areta Zhulla was recently named “Young Artist of the Year” by the National Critics Association of Music and Drama in Greece and is a recipient of the Triandi Career Grant as well as the Tassos Prassopoulos Foundation Award. Zhulla has appeared as a soloist, recitalist and chamber music throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Asia, at many renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Auditorium du Louvre, Alice Tully Hall, Kennedy Center, metropolitan Museum of Art, and National Arts Centre of Canada.

A chamber music fanatic, Ms. Zhulla has been a member of Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center, where she performed regularly with some of today’s most acclaimed artists, and she appears frequently as guest artist with The Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players. Ms. Zhulla was a member of the LK String Quartet, which was praised by The Washington Post for its “warm tone, elegant finish, a vivid engagement with the scores’ drama and ensemble that was tight as a drum.” Memorable collaborations include performances with legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, as well as collaborations with Pinchas Zukerman, Orli Shaham, Gilbert Kalish, Colin Carr, Ida Kavafian, and the Cavani String Quartet.

Details:
Saturday, April 29 @ 7:30pm
Church of the Holy Apostles
296 Ninth Ave @ 28th Street
NYC, NY. Subway C,E to 23rd St

Sunday, April 30 @ 3:00pm
West End Collegiate Church
245 West 77th Street @ West End Ave
NYC, NY. Subway #1 to 79th St

Tickets & Information: www.melodiawomenschoir.org
Melodia contact: womenschoir@mindspring.com

Teri Duerr
Horse+Dragon PR
646-862-3379
email us here

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