Cappella Romana and the Boston Early Music Festival present

THE GREEK BYZANTINE CHOIR

Just after Thanksgiving, November 26, 28, 29, 2005
THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SINGERS FROM ATHENS

"Singing seems merely an extension of breathing: unearthing fresh chantsfrom the archives ... is their meat and drink"--The Independent (London, UK)

15 September 2005--PORTLAND, Ore.; SEATTLE, Wash.; BOSTON, Ma--Just after Thanksgiving this year, the Boston Early Music Festival and Cappella Romana present the world-renowned GREEK BYZANTINE CHOIR, directed by Lycourgos Angelopoulos, for two concerts in Boston and the Northwest. (BOSTON: Saturday, 26 November 2005, 8:00;m, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England; PORTLAND: Monday, 28 November 2005, 7:30pm, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church; SEATTLE: Tuesday, 29 November, 7:30pm, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church).

For nearly 30 years, the Greek Byzantine Choir has been bringing to life the vast expanse of written and oral traditions of Byzantine music, with concerts and services throughout Greece as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the East Coast of North America. The choir will enthrall audiences with musical jewels of Greek Orthodoxy with this tour, including its first ever performances on the West Coast.

This is no ordinary choir. Come hear 21 men’s voices perform a vigorous and intoxicating mix of medieval hymns and psalms; ecstatic compositions by St. John Koukouzelis (13 th century); ancient and contemporary chants from Mt. Athos, the world center of Orthodox monasticism; and joyful hymns of Christmastide. This tour is made possible by the support of the Greek Orthodox parishes of Holy Trinity and St. John the Baptist in Portland and St. Demetrios, Assumption, and Holy Apostles in Seattle, as well as the Boston Early Music Festival in the Boston area.

WHO: THE GREEK BYZANTINE CHOIR
21 singers from Athens, directed by LYCOURGOS ANGELOPOULOS

WHAT: Byzantine Chant: Music for Christmas and by St. John Koukouzelis

P O R T L A N D

WHEN: Monday, 28 November 2005, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
3131 NE Glisan St, Portland 97232
TICKETS: $30 in advance, plus modest service fee. www.cappellaromana.org
Call TicketsWest, 503-224-8499. $35 at the door. ($10 student rush)

S E A T T L E

WHEN: Tuesday, 29 November 2005, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
2100 Boyer Ave E., Seattle 98112
TICKETS: $30 in advance, plus modest service fee. www.cappellaromana.org
Call TicketsWest, 206-632-8499. $35 at the door. ($10 student rush)

[edd--we have added the information about the Boston appearance under the aegis of the Boston Early Music Festival for the benefit of HCS readers in the Boston area]

B O S T O N
WHEN: Saturday, 26 November 2005, 8:00pm
WHERE: Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England, Boston, 514 Park St. at Ruggles
TICKETS:  $53, $37, and $21
Call BEMF (Boston Early Music Foundation) office at 617-661-1812 or order online at https://www.bemf.org/orderfms/tickets05-06.htm