In 2022, Dr. Christopher Hansen of the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91福利社 will step onto a stage where for nearly 130 years many of the world鈥檚 greatest musicians have stood, beginning with Pyotr Tchaikovsky on opening night May 5, 1891.
Hansen will be guest conductor of the New England Symphonic Ensemble and world-class soloists, plus an invitational choir comprised of singers from across the nation, including a select group of 91福利社 musicians for a performance of Ola Gjeilo鈥檚 鈥淒ark Night of the Soul鈥� and 鈥淟uminous Night of the Soul.鈥� The performance will take place June 25, 2022 at New York City鈥檚 fabled Carnegie Hall, in the Stern Auditorium and on the Perelman Stage.
Receiving an invitation to conduct performers at Carnegie Hall goes beyond Hansen鈥檚 wildest expectations.
He received a call from prominent choral director Dr. Sonja Sepulveda, followed by an official invitation from Peter Tiboris, founder and general director of . Sepulveda had been following Hansen鈥檚 conducting, his social media posts and, admiring Hansen鈥檚 energy and enthusiasm, felt he was a good choice to be a guest conductor for Midamerica Productions鈥� 39th Carnegie Hall season.
鈥淣ever in my mind did I have this as one of those aspirations that could actually happen, so I said 鈥榶es, I accept the invitation,鈥欌�� Hansen said.
The musical composition 鈥淒ark Night of the Soul鈥� incorporates stanzas from the poem of the same name, written by 16th-century Spanish mystic and poet St. John of the Cross.
鈥淚 fell in love with this song when it first came out. I knew that I wanted to conduct this with an ensemble. It鈥檚 such an incredible piece of music,鈥� Hansen said. Of this work, Hansen said it provides the 鈥渇ull landscape of what I call the emotive experience鈥� You鈥檝e got different textures working with each other-conflict, dissonance, tension and release.鈥�
Another Gjeilo work to be performed, 鈥淟uminous Night of the Soul,鈥� provides a contrast to his earlier composition, with its brighter, lighter feel.
Four separate regional rehearsals are being planned across the east coast, and Hansen hopes to include many singers from 91福利社 and the South Carolina Upstate. Additionally, all three of 91福利社鈥檚 choirs plan to perform 鈥淒ark Night of the Soul鈥� and 鈥淟uminous Night of the Soul鈥� in Henderson Auditorium of the Rainey Fine Arts Center in March 2022.
For details and audition information, visit .