Bella Voce with Artistic Director Andrew Lewis (Photo: Joe Mazza)
Bella Voce has announced its 2024-2025 season. The Chicago-area chamber choir’s upcoming programming will be its 42nd season.
The theme of the season is Odysseys, which is explored in programs throughout the year. All programs will be conducted by artistic director Andrew Lewis, a respected conductor with a specialty in vocal performance.
In the season opener, the ensemble explores the close musical ties of Iberia and the Americas through sacred music of European and indigenous American artists. The a cappella program will be held on October 5 at St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church in Chicago, and on October 6 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston.
The holiday season will bring two programs: on November 17, a performance of Handel’s Messiah at St. Luke’s in Evanston. Then in December, the ensemble will collaborate with the Madison Bach Musicians for the first time on A 17th Century German Christmas. A home-and-home series will see Bella Voce performing in Madison on December 14 and then in Evanston on December 15.
Hannah De Priest
In May, the season will culminate with a company first. Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas will be the ensemble’s first presentation of a Baroque opera. The semi-staged production will feature soprano Hannah De Priest as Dido. WFMT music director Oliver Camacho will direct the production, which will again be mounted at St. Luke’s.
In a special weekend-long workshop in February 2025, the ensemble will revive Polyphony Camp for the first time in 20 years. The singing seminar will welcome artists of all experience levels (including complete amateurs!) to learn from Bella Voce artistic director Andrew Lewis.
For ticketing and information, visit bellavoce.org.
