Listen up, music lovers! The hills of Santa Fe will once again ring with the passionate sound of voices lifted in song. The New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus (NMGMC) — under the leadership of Aaron Howe, artistic director — has announced its 42nd Season concert lineup. The upcoming season will feature some of the most ambitious programming the chorus has taken on to date. The season kicks off with the annual holiday show featuring a concert performance of Scrooge. The spring concert, The Show Must Go On, features the music of Queen. Rounding out the season in June will be the Southwest premiere of Christopher Tin’s newest release, To Shiver the Sky.
“We’re very excited about our 42nd season,” says Aaron. “This season, our artistic team wanted to bring something new to our audiences. It all starts with a very fun adaptation of Scrooge: The Musical that will include some surprises. Our spring concert is something we’ve never done before — perform only songs from one group. We’re excited to feature many popular songs by the band Queen in The Show Must Go On.”
The fun kicks off on Friday, December 9, 2022, at 7:30 p.m., when NMGMC brings the music of Scrooge: The Musical to the concert stage at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. Based on the music and screenplay of the 1970 musical film Scrooge starring Albert Finney, and Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, this first-ever all-male performance will feature some surprise guests in a concert setting that is sure to put you in the holiday mood. The production will be followed by two repeat performances on Saturday, December 10, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 11, at 3 p.m., at the Hiland Theater in Albuquerque.
On Friday, March 31, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., the NMGMC presents The Show Must Go On, featuring the music of Queen, at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. This choral rock concert will feature some of the iconic group’s most popular hits, presented in a fun, campy way that only NMGMC can do. Get ready to hear favorites like Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody to Love, We Are the Champions, and more. The chorus and the live band on stage will deliver what will truly be an epic evening of entertainment. On Saturday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 2, at 3 p.m., encore presentations will be performed at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, in Albuquerque.
For the final presentation, NMGMC, The Zia Singers, and Rio Rancho Youth Chorus will present the Southwest premiere of To Shiver the Sky, the latest work by two-time Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin. This piece is a musical exploration of humankind’s journeys into the heavens that marries texts from pioneers of flight — from Leonardo da Vinci to Amelia Earhart — to Tin’s inspiring and wonder-filled score for orchestra, chorus, and soloists. Performances will be Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque, followed by Sunday, June 18, at 3 p.m., at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe.
“We’re thrilled to perform the latest amazing collection from Grammy-award-winning Christopher Tin, especially for our first concert in Popejoy Hall,” Aaron says. “We performed his work The Drop That Contained the Sea in 2018, and are honored to be presenting his latest work, To Shiver the Sky.”
It’s an all-new season for the NMGMC, one of which they are very proud. According to Aaron, besides the familiar mélange of heavenly voices, you can expect new changes that will enhance your listening — and viewing — pleasure. “We’re constantly striving to improve the overall production quality of our performances,” he says. “Adding in dancers, video and other elements complements the amazing sound our singers are producing and brings a presentation that really engages our audiences.”
For more information about the New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus’ upcoming season, or to purchase single or season tickets, visit the website.
This article was posted by Jesse Williams
