The In Good Taste Denver team enjoys and appreciates a wide variety of music of all styles and from all eras. Choral music is among them because of the power you feel from this group of individuals, coming together as one, melding notes and tones together, sending it all out into the audience. I always picture those schools of small, shiny fish that move en masse, beautiful individually but a stunning flow, together. That’s why we are happy to partner with The Colorado Choir to offer two sets of tickets to their May 13 and 14 concerts.
In this article, learn more about the concert and what you can expect. At the end of the article, learn how to enter to win a pair of tickets by May 4.
As you may have noticed, the title of this concert—A Night at the Opera, A Day Full of Graces—is a play on the titles of Marx Brothers movies, which at first glance seems odd for a choir concert, but it does represent the program in a subtle manner. For the most part, The Colorado Choir’s Conductor/Artistic Director, Kelly Parmenter, thought it was funny!
The first half of the concert presents operatic selections both familiar and less well-known. The opera songs selected are a combination of recognizable tunes, even to non-opera fans, and some of Kelly’s favorites.
“The Anvil Chorus” from Il Trovatore will sound familiar to most and features actual musical anvils. “The Humming Chorus” from Madame Butterfly is less familiar but is a musical representation of a mother’s deep love for her child. Four featured soloists are showcased in this half of the concert; Arianne Beckman and Faith Prager will sing “The Flower Duet” from Lakmé, then Kelly Parmenter and her brother, Mick Parmenter, keep the party going in “Brindisi” (also known as “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” or “The Drinking Song”) from La Traviata, which will also sound familiar since this popular tune has been widely used in movies, cartoons, and commercials. “Neighbors’ Chorus” from the comic opera La Jolie Parfumeuse provides almost tongue-in-cheek humor (in English this time) to round out the operatic section of the concert.
The second half is designed to remind us all that blessings come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Following intermission, “O Day Full of Grace” sets the mood for songs of grace, happiness, celebration, and community. Soloist Faith Neal shares her talents with us on “In The Heart of the World,” an incredibly moving song that addresses the feelings of hope that we all hold for the future. When Kelly heard this piece during the pandemic, she knew it had to be part of the choir’s program when we were able to sing again, because when you set all conflict aside and get to the heart of things, we all want the same thing. Peace. Also featured in this half is a personal favorite of Conductor Parmenter’s—”The Prayer of the Cat”—a humorous tale of a cat on Noah’s Ark speaking quite candidly to God.
The choir hopes you will enjoy A Night at the Opera, A Day Full of Graces. In Kelly’s words, “This concert is like a family reunion. Everyone arrives and there is hugging and excited voices and the party starts, but late in the evening as you sit around a campfire, that is when you share memories, reflections, hopes, and dreams. And when it is time to go, the hugs are warm and accompanied by wishes of health and wellbeing. Everyone is filled with a sense of belonging and acceptance and looks forward to the next gathering.”
Performances are at 7:30pm on Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14 at Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E Alameda Ave. in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students, seniors, and military (plus a small processing fee). Learn more and purchase tickets at thecoloradochoir.org. You can also listen to a sampling of their music on their YouTube channel.
How to enter to win a pair of tickets to A Night at the Opera, A Day Full of Graces:
Look for our social media posts about this giveaway on the In Good Taste Denver Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. There, you’ll be instructed to “like” the post and leave an emoji of choice (something springy or musical would be nice), and like the Colorado Choir’s social media page too. Deadline is 11:59pm May 4. Winners will be selected and notified on May 5. They’ll be given a promo code with which to request their free tickets online. The prize is transferrable.
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