Penn Singers

Penn Singers

The Penn Singers is a light opera company at the University of Pennsylvania. The group was founded in 1957 as the University's first all-female choir and was converted into a co-ed light opera company in 1972. The group performs two major productions each year - a Broadway-style musical or revue in the fall, [ [http://www.pennsingers.com/history/] Penn Singers history from website. ] [ [http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/1993/12/03/Archive/Penn-Players.Put.On.Fun.Show-2187560.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailypennsylvanian.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com] Geschwind, Melissa, "Penn Players put on fun show." Daily Pennsylvanian, Dec. 3, 1993. Retrieved Jan. 24, 2007] and a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta [ [http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/1993/04/02/Resources/Amusing.mikado.Performance.Opens-2188821.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailypennsylvanian.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com] Green, Jorie, "Amusing 'Mikado' performance opens." Daily Pennsylvanian, April 2, 1993. retrieved Jan 24, 2007] [ [http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/1994/04/08/Resources/Penn-Singers.Present.Light.Operatic.Fare-2180642.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailypennsylvanian.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com] de Leon, Melissa, "Penn Singers present light operatic fare." Daily Pennsylvanian, April 8, 1994. retrieved Jan. 24, 2007] in the spring.

History

The Penn Singers Light Opera Company had its origins in the Pennsyngers, an all-female chorus founded in 1957 by two University of Pennsylvania students, Meryl Moss and Edie Herman. Moss and Herman created the group as an outlet for female singers as an alternative to the all-male Penn Glee Club. In that first year, the women directed themselves. The next year, Bruce Montgomery, then head of Student Performing Arts, hired Ernest Ganz as their director. A number of other directors followed over the next thirteen years.

Then, in 1970, the Philadelphia Orchestra premiered Montgomery's "Herodotus Fragments," a concert piece written for orchestra and two choruses. The Pennsyngers and Penn Glee Club sang at the piece's premiere [Montgomery, Bruce. "Brothers, Sing on!" University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005] . In 1971, Montgomery took over as their director and made the group a co-ed ensemble. That year, the group was renamed the Penn Singers.

In 1972, the Penn Singers performed a two act show: the first act contained the Buxtehude "Missa Brevis", Schubert's "Mass in G", and five pieces from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar". The second act was Gilbert and Sullivan's "Trial By Jury".

With the arrival of Montgomery as a full-time director [ [http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2000/05/03/Resources/For-Conductor.A.Final.Encore-2163861.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailypennsylvanian.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com] Krieger, Zeev "For conductor, a final encore." Daily Pennsylvanian, May 3, 2000. retrieved Jan. 24, 2007] and the opening of the ensemble to male singers, the group then decided to transform itself into a light opera company. The next year, the Penn Singers performed a fully-staged "The Pirates of Penzance" followed by a modernized version of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience". The Singers have performed a Gilbert and Sullivan light opera every year since 1972 (except 1996 and 2006), alternating with an operetta or musical.

In addition to their two major productions each year, the Singers travel each year to perform a concert version of their spring show for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of New York.

Recent Productions

In 1996 and 2006, the Singers performed "Spindrift", an original musical written by Montgomery. [ [http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/1996/04/10/Resources/Penn-Singers.Honor.Founder.On.25th.Anniv-2174678.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailypennsylvanian.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com] Boar, Jessica, "Penn Singers honor founder on 25th anniv." Daily Pennsylvanian, April 10, 1996, retrieved Jan,. 24, 2007]

In the fall of 2006, the Singers performed a new version of Leonard Bernstein's "Candide". The Singers' edition was largely based on the Royal National Theatre's highly acclaimed rendition of the operetta, but also synthesized elements of the many prior productions of "Candide" which had appeared over the years.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Penn State Glee Club — The Penn State Glee Club is the men s collegiate chorus of the Pennsylvania State University and one of the most active and distinguished clubs in the United States. Founded in December 1888, it is Penn State s oldest musical organization and is… …   Wikipedia

  • Dan Penn — (born Wallace Daniel Pennington, 16 November 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and sometime guitar player who co wrote many soul hits of the 1960s including Dark End of the Street and Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (with… …   Wikipedia

  • Dawn Penn — Birth name Dawn Pickering Born 1952 (age 58–59) Kingston, Jamaica Genres Reggae Rocksteady Occupations Singer …   Wikipedia

  • Michael Penn — For other people named Michael Penn, see Michael Penn (disambiguation). Michael Penn Born August 1, 1958 (1958 08 01) (age 53) Greenwich Village, New York City, US Occupations Singer songwriter, composer, musician …   Wikipedia

  • Bruce Montgomery (entertainer) — Bruce Eglinton Montgomery (June 20, 1927 June 21, 2008) was an American composer, author, musical theater performer and painter; and a conductor and director, particularly of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas. Monty , as he was known around… …   Wikipedia

  • University of Pennsylvania — This article is about the private Philadelphia based Ivy League university, colloquially referred to as Penn . For the public university located in State College, Pennsylvania, and colloquially known as Penn State , see Pennsylvania State… …   Wikipedia

  • College Boat Club — Established 1872 Navy admission 1875 Coaches Greg Myhr and Ed Golding (Hwt Men) Nick Baker and John Hayburn (Lwt Men) …   Wikipedia

  • Student life at the University of Pennsylvania — has many traditions. Performing arts groups include The University of Pennsylvania Band, one of the oldest scramble bands in the country; there are also numerous student run theatre groups, including unique groups like the long running… …   Wikipedia

  • Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania — Established 1765 Type Private Dean …   Wikipedia

  • Meiklejohn Stadium — Former names Murphy Field (2000 2006) Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 Coordinates …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”