Great Memories: The University of Miami Frost Chorale 2011 Incantato Spain Performance Tour

The UM Frost Chorale in Valencia: Ave Maria by Victoria

The University of Miami Frost Chorale in Barcelona

Live from Toledo - if it works: The University of Miami Frost Chorale in concert

Broadcasting Live with Ustream.TV

The University of Miami Frost Chorale concludes 2011 Incantato Performance Tour with a concert at the Church of Santo Tome on Saturday, May 21 at 8 P.M.

The University of Miami Frost Chorale will perform at Toledo's Santo Tome on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 8 PM. Dating from the 14^th century, Toledo’s Santo Tomé is best known for housing El Greco’s most famous painting, The Burial of Count Orgaz.

Santo Tomé was founded in the 12^th century, but completely restructured in the 14^th century as commissioned by the Lord of Orgaz, the subject of El Greco’s painting. Count Orgaz, born Gonzalo Ruiz, was a Toledo native and Señor of the town of Orgaz. He died in 1312, leaving substantial donations for the enlargement and detailed adornment of the Church of Santo Tomé. A pious man, Orgaz was known to donate to multiple local charities in his lifetime. It is believed according to local Toledo legend that Saint Stephen and Saint Augustine even presided over his burial. A painting depicting this legend was commissioned for the church on March 18, 1586.

The chosen painter was El Greco, who served as a member of the church. The painting was unveiled by Christmas of that year and immediately attracted attention. Spectators were especially impressed by the inclusions of realistic portraits of the Toledo’s most notable figures of the time posing as onlookers. The painting portrays the burial of Count Orgaz with the posthumous assistance of Saint Augustine and Saint Stephen miraculously appearing to thank the Count for his donations to all the religious institutions named after them.

Even more interesting about the painting is the lack of ground, horizon, sky, and perspective. There appears no conflict, and El Greco successfully achieves a convincing expression of supernatural space.

The Burial of Count Orgaz was El Greco’s first major work. Many of his later pieces are displayed in the Toledo Cathedral.

Incantato proudly presents the Frost Chorale at Church of San Pedro in Cuenca on Friday, May 20

The singers of the Frost Chorale from Miami, Florida, will perform at the Church of San Pedro in Cuenca on Friday, May 20, 2011.

The Church of San Pedro, located within the hilltop town of Cuenca, was built in the twelfth century atop the ruins of an ancient mosque, shortly after the city was conquered by Alfonso VIII. In the mid-fifteenth century, the church played an important role as ally to Bishop Lope de Barrientos throughout his battles with Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoa, the Marquis of Canete.

The original church was destroyed in 1499 and rebuilt in 1604 only to fall to ruins once again during the War of Succession in 1700. Later in the eighteenth century, during the Episcopate of Don Jose Florez Osorio, the church, like many others within the diocese of Cuenca, underwent complete renovation under the design of architect Jose Martin de Aldehuela.

The present structure boasts an octagonal shape and a large dome covered in intricate lunette detail. They exterior is a prime example of Baroque architecture. Due to both its vast historical significance as well as its unique architectural value, the Church or San Pedro remains the most recognized church in all of Cuenca.

University of Miami Frost Chorale second concert on Wednesday, May 18 at 8:30 PM: Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas in Valencia

In celebration of International Museum Day, the University of Miami Frost Chorale from Miami will be performing at Valencia’s Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 8:30 PM.

One of the most central structures in the city of Valencia is the Palacio del Marques de dos Aguas, a former palace and now the home of Spain’s National Museum of Ceramics and Arts. The fifteenth century home was officially declared a historic-artistic monument in 1941.

Historians consider the palace a “paragon of nobility and wealth,” stemming from the fifteenth century during which the Perellos Rabassa family acquired the Barony of Dos Aguas and were ultimately elevated to the status of Marquis by King Charles II.

The grounds originally consisted of three Gothic buildings arranged around the perimeter of a courtyard, as well as a single tower at the northwest corner. The current palace is the product of a radical reform which occurred in the year 1740 and now boasts an irregular quadrangular layout organized around the courtyard and corner towers. The front door was carved in alabaster by Valencia’s Ignacio Vergara, the founder of the Santa Barbara School of Fine Arts.

The palace’s name “Dos Aguas” refers to the two largest rivers in the region of Valencia, the Turia and Jucar, which are represented on the building’s façade by two nude human figures and two falling streams of water.
The ownership of the palace changed hands multiple times throughout the centuries, until the Spanish government officially purchased the site in 1949 for the installation of a ceramic collection assembled by Professor Don Manuel Gonzalez Marti, his wife Amelia Cunat, and Monleon, ultimately becoming the National Ceramics Museum.
The then-Minister of Education, Don Joaquin Ruiz Jimenez, presided over the official inauguration of the Museum on June 18, 1954.
The National Museum of Ceramics and Arts receives world-renowned praise, not only for their vast exhibition of artistic works, but also for the intriguing history and beauty of the palace itself.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Full House for UM Frost Chorale in Barcelona

Incantato proudly presents the University of Miami Frost Chorale in Barcelona at Santa Maria del Mar on Tuesday, May 17 at 8 pm

The University of Miami Frost Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Joshua Habermann, will perform at Barcelona's Santa Maria del Mar on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 8 PM.
The first communities in what is now Barcelona were founded within the confines of the seaport, overlooking the "Mare Nostrom" and its old church in which Barcelona’s co-patron Saint Eulalia’s relics were buried in A.D. 303 following her martyrdom. This church, combined with a succession of churches on site, was referred to as "Santa   Maria de las Arenas". During the Middle Ages, the first homes outside the walls emerged as the sailing quarter and ultimately led to the creation of the “La Ribera” district, of which Santa Maria de las Arenas became the community’s parish. The devout members of the parish pledged to construct a beautiful church on the existing site. On March 25, 1329, the first stone was laid on the site of the present Santa Maria del Mar, also known as the “Cathedral of the Sea,” located on Santa Maria Street in Barcelona. The temple was consecrated by the Bishop of Barcelona, Pere de Planella, on August 15, 1384. It took fifty-four years of continuous construction to complete the structure. The basilica’s Catalan Gothic style, a style characteristic of purity and unity, is very unique for a medieval building of its massive size. The construction of Santa Maria del Mar even served as the background inspiration for the best-selling novel La cathedral del mar, published by Spanish author Ildefonso Falcones in 2006. Tourist reviews of the site not only compliment the beauty of the structure itself, but also rave about the acoustics of the interior. Many visit the church merely to attend musical performances.

University of Miami Frost Chorale Performance Overview

University of Miami Frost Chorale Spain Tour receives media coverage

The University of Miami Frost Chorale is about to embark on its 2011 Incantato Spain Performance Tour starting in Barcelona and ending in Madrid. "Cantemos" is the musical theme for the tour under the direction of Dr. Joshua Habermann. Marketing is just one of many key elements for good audiences, and the UM  performances are already being announced through internet as well as by other mass media. Here you have some quick links access: Barcelona:
Fundació Josep Carreras:

For Valencia:

Toledo:

Toledo Sightseeing & Incantato Performance Venue for the University of Miami Frost Chorale on May 21: Santo Tomé & "The Burial of Count Orgaz"

The University of Miami Frost Chorale will perform at Toledo's Santo Tome on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Dating from the 14th century, Toledo’s Santo Tomé is best known for housing El Greco’s most famous painting, The Burial of Count Orgaz.Santo Tomé was founded in the 12th century, but completely restructured in the 14th century as commissioned by the Lord of Orgaz, the subject of El Greco’s painting. Count Orgaz, born Gonzalo Ruiz, was a Toledo native and Señor of the town of Orgaz. He died in 1312, leaving substantial donations for the enlargement and detailed adornment of the Church of Santo Tomé. A pious man, Orgaz was known to donate to multiple local charities in his lifetime. It is believed according to local Toledo legend that Saint Stephen and Saint Augustine even presided over his burial. A painting depicting this legend was commissioned for the church on March 18, 1586. The chosen painter was El Greco, who served as a member of the church. The painting was unveiled by Christmas of that year and immediately attracted attention. Spectators were especially impressed by the inclusions of realistic portraits of the Toledo’s most notable figures of the time posing as onlookers. The painting portrays the burial of Count Orgaz with the posthumous assistance of Saint Augustine and Saint Stephen miraculously appearing to thank the Count for his donations to all the religious institutions named after them. Even more interesting about the painting is the lack of ground, horizon, sky, and perspective. There appears no conflict, and El Greco successfully achieves a convincing expression of supernatural space. The Burial of Count Orgaz was El Greco’s first major work. Many of his later pieces are displayed in the Toledo Cathedral.

Incantato proudly presents the Frost Chorale at Church of San Pedro in Cuenca on Friday, May 20

The travelers of the Frost Chorale from Miami, Florida, will perform at the Church of San Pedro in Cuenca on Friday, May 20, 2011.

The Church of San Pedro, located within the hilltop town of Cuenca, was built in the twelfth century atop the ruins of an ancient mosque, shortly after the city was conquered by Alfonso VIII. In the mid-fifteenth century, the church played an important role as ally to Bishop Lope de Barrientos throughout his battles with Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoa, the Marquis of Canete. The original church was destroyed in 1499 and rebuilt in 1604 only to fall to ruins once again during the War of Succession in 1700. Later in the eighteenth century, during the Episcopate of Don Jose Florez Osorio, the church, like many others within the diocese of Cuenca, underwent complete renovation under the design of architect Jose Martin de Aldehuela. The present structure boasts an octagonal shape and a large dome covered in intricate lunette detail. They exterior is a prime example of Baroque architecture. Due to both its vast historical significance as well as its unique architectural value, the Church or San Pedro remains the most recognized church in all of Cuenca.

University of Miami Frost Chorale performance venue for Wednesday, May 18: Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas in Valencia

In celebration of International Museum Day, the University of Miami Frost Chorale from Miami will be performing at Valencia’s Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas on Wednesday, May 18, 2011.

One of the most central structures in the city of Valencia is the Palacio del Marques de dos Aguas, a former palace and now the home of Spain’s National Museum of Ceramics and Arts. The fifteenth century home was officially declared a historic-artistic monument in 1941. Historians consider the palace a “paragon of nobility and wealth,” stemming from the fifteenth century during which the Perellos Rabassa family acquired the Barony of Dos Aguas and were ultimately elevated to the status of Marquis by King Charles II.The grounds originally consisted of three Gothic buildings arranged around the perimeter of a courtyard, as well as a single tower at the northwest corner. The current palace is the product of a radical reform which occurred in the year 1740 and now boasts an irregular quadrangular layout organized around the courtyard and corner towers. The front door was carved in alabaster by Valencia’s Ignacio Vergara, the founder of the Santa Barbara School of Fine Arts. The palace’s name “Dos Aguas” refers to the two largest rivers in the region of Valencia, the Turia and Jucar, which are represented on the building’s façade by two nude human figures and two falling streams of water.
The ownership of the palace changed hands multiple times throughout the centuries, until the Spanish government officially purchased the site in 1949 for the installation of a ceramic collection assembled by Professor Don Manuel Gonzalez Marti, his wife Amelia Cunat, and Monleon, ultimately becoming the National Ceramics Museum.
The then-Minister of Education, Don Joaquin Ruiz Jimenez, presided over the official inauguration of the Museum on June 18, 1954.
The National Museum of Ceramics and Arts receives world-renowned praise, not only for their vast exhibition of artistic works, but also for the intriguing history and beauty of the palace itself.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Incantato presents the University of Miami Frost Chorale at Santa Maria del Mar (Barcelona) on Tuesday, May 17

The University of Miami Frost Chorale will perform at Barcelona's Santa Maria del Mar on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 under the direction of Dr. Josh Habermann.
The first communities in what is now Barcelona were founded within the confines of the seaport, overlooking the "Mare Nostrom" and its old church in which Barcelona’s co-patron Saint Eulalia’s relics were buried in A.D. 303 following her martyrdom. This church, combined with a succession of churches on site, was referred to as "Santa Maria de las Arenas". During the Middle Ages, the first homes outside the walls emerged as the sailing quarter and ultimately led to the creation of the “La Ribera” district, of which Santa Maria de las Arenas became the community’s parish. The devout members of the parish pledged to construct a beautiful church on the existing site. On March 25, 1329, the first stone was laid on the site of the present Santa Maria del Mar, also known as the “Cathedral of the Sea,” located on Santa Maria Street in Barcelona. The temple was consecrated by the Bishop of Barcelona, Pere de Planella, on August 15, 1384. It took fifty-four years of continuous construction to complete the structure. The basilica’s Catalan Gothic style, a style characteristic of purity and unity, is very unique for a medieval building of its massive size. The construction of Santa Maria del Mar even served as the background inspiration for the best-selling novel La cathedral del mar, published by Spanish author Ildefonso Falcones in 2006. Tourist reviews of the site not only compliment the beauty of the structure itself, but also rave about the acoustics of the interior. Many visit the church merely to attend musical performances.