Two 'greats' in the music world
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The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing with Erich Kunzel and his Cincinnati Pops Orchestra: It doesn't get much better than that, and it will take place June 18.
When 314 of the choir's singers arrive at the Riverbend Music Center — located by the Ohio River on the outskirts of Cincinnati — renowned Pops director Kunzel will "be there with open arms to welcome them."
There is a challenge, however, and the 74-year-old maestro is meeting it head on: He was diagnosed on April 29 with cancer in his pancreas, liver and colon.
In a telephone interview with the Church News on May 27, he said that he will direct the choir and his orchestra as planned.
"I feel fine," he declared in a voice that resonated with positive energy and attitude. "I'm taking chemo treatments. I'm going forward. I'm fighting this thing and I'm going to win. I'll be there to direct the choir during its first concert on its tour."
Mr. Kunzel had never heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in person until he stepped in front of the singers two years ago during a rehearsal prior to the choir's first appearance with his Pops orchestra during its 2007 summer tour, which included a performance at Riverbend. Since then, he performed in September 2008 in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City with the choir and Utah Symphony and now is preparing for his third appearance with the choir.
The choir will perform in seven cities, departing from Salt Lake City on June 18 and returning on June 30. The tour will open in Cincinnati June 18 to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Riverbend Music Center, and conclude June 29 at Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheater. In between, performances will be in St. Louis, Mo., (Scott Trade Center, June 20); Des Moines, Iowa (Iowa Events Center, June 22); Omaha, Neb., (Holland Performing Arts, June 23); Kansas City, Mo., (Sprint Center, June 25); and Norman, Okla., (on University of Oklahoma campus, June 27).
Mr. Kunzel said that the Tabernacle Choir is "America's choir." He added, "I think it is absolutely wonderful that they go on tour. They're ambassadors, no matter where they perform, whether overseas or in the U.S. They're ambassadors for Salt Lake City, for the country. When the choir goes on tour, it provides an opportunity for people in all the cities they're going to to hear America's choir. So few people have the opportunity to hear it live. If you have that opportunity — that's something special."
Cincinnati is a star host city for great performances. Its choral and orchestral traditions reach back to at least 1825 when an orchestra was formed to play for Gen. Lafayette during his visit to the city. Cincinnati hosted its first May Festival in the early 1870s.
"The May Festival was the first choral festival in western hemisphere," Mr. Kunzel said.
"There is a great choral tradition in Cincinnati. The fact the Tabernacle Choir is coming to great choral city is something special. This is the world's best, greatest choir. To conduct them is a great honor for me. They make a beautiful sound."
One indication of Mr. Kunzel's stature in the music world is that he led the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Mac Christensen, president of the Tabernacle Choir, said of Mr. Kunzel. "He is a wonderful man, a magnificent conductor. We look forward to being with him and having him conduct with our choir director, Mack Wilberg, as planned. Erich Kunzel is a legend — respected the world over. He is warm, talented and giving. Our prayers are with him. We all believe in miracles."
