2/17/2013
Bienvenidos a Madrid! Incantato welcomes the University of British Columbia Singers in Spain
1/30/2013
Incantato Concert Tours proudly presents: the UBC Singers 2013 performance tour to Spain
The University of British Columbia Singers under the direction of Dr. Graeme Langager will be presenting a total of three concerts during their 2013 performance tour through Spain in February, including venues in Toledo, Valencia, and Barcelona.
On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, the UBC Choir will be performing in the Transito Synagogue in Toledo. It was built as a private chapel as part of the palace between 1355 and 1357. Today, it has been restored to its original architecture but designed as an important cultural heritage and museum. Incantato Concert Tours is thrilled to show off the concert poster for this first special event:
On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, the UBC Choir will be performing in the Transito Synagogue in Toledo. It was built as a private chapel as part of the palace between 1355 and 1357. Today, it has been restored to its original architecture but designed as an important cultural heritage and museum. Incantato Concert Tours is thrilled to show off the concert poster for this first special event:
1/11/2013
A belated Happy New Year from Incantato Tours!
Oops..
New Year's resolution #1: wish everyone from Incantato Tours a very happy new year on time! We hope you had relaxing holidays and a wonderful start into 2013 from your Incantato Tours team Ted, Crista and Sandra.
11/12/2012
Incantato's Crista at the CruiseWorld show
For all pictures from the show, be sure to check out Crista's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/crista.hartenstein.
10/24/2012
Don't forget about the MS Mozart's FB page, by Incantato
Follow Sandra Weinacht and Ted Keppler, founders of Incantato Tours, as they travel the Danube aboard the MS Mozart. They are doing research for tour groups that will be journeying aboard this vessel for their performance tours in 2013 and 2014. Countries to be visited include Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary!
Weimar is Wunderbar
Ask anyone who’s been there and they’ll tell you the place is a gem. Weimar has a unique classical heritage and an air of elegance, but is also a very vibrant modern Thuringian town, on the river Ilm southwest of Leipzig, where enjoying life is as much a priority as celebrating culture.
Historically, Weimar is a bit of an overachiever, punching well above its weight. It may have only 65,000 inhabitants today but boy, has it left its mark.
One UNESCO World Heritage listing wasn’t enough, so the city has been given two: one for classical Weimar with 13 buildings and architectural ensembles, and one for its Bauhaus sites.
The Weimar classic period from 1775 to 1832 flourished under the reign of Duchess Anna Amalia, and her library with the exquisite Rococo Hall is probably the most famous in the collection of eminent classical buildings. And while on the subject of libraries, Weimar is still best known around the world for its associations with Germany’s ‘national poets’ Goethe and Schiller who lived and worked in the town during the classic age. Goethe’s Home, part of
the classical Weimar collection, also houses the Goethe National Museum. In August 2012, a new permanent exhibition was opened to honor the über-author, entitled ‘Floods of life, storm of deeds”’.
Fast forward into the 20th century and Weimar was again the birthplace of a movement, this time of the world’s most influential art and design school. In 1919, Walter Gropius established the Bauhaus School and assembled the whole of the European avantgarde of the time in Thuringia to teach at the new school of design. ‘Haus am Horn’, the most famous example of Bauhaus architecture, was built as a model house for the first architecture exhibition in 1923 and is one of three Bauhaus sites in Weimar.
As befits an institution that is dedicated to the roots of Modernism, the Bauhaus Museum, currently in a neoclassical building opposite the National Theatre, will finally get a new home. The winners of an international architectural competition for the new museum were announced in summer 2012 and the design sounds spectacular; a geometrically clear shape forming a dominant solitaire at the edge of the Weimarhallen park in the town centre.
Apart from all its elegant palaces, museums and beautiful parks, Weimar is also a very liveable town, keen on letting its hair down now and then. Every October since 1653 the Onion Festival (12 to 14 Oct 2012) celebrates the humble plant, and it is the biggest such festival worldwide. Onion garlands, decorated with colourful dried flowers, are popular souvenirs, there are stands selling handicrafts, food and drink, music and an Onion Market Queen who reigns for one year. The whole historic town centre is one big party and 350,000 visitors make this the biggest festival in Thuringia. Not quite UNESCO World Heritage material yet, but another reason why Weimar is more than worthwhile.
Historically, Weimar is a bit of an overachiever, punching well above its weight. It may have only 65,000 inhabitants today but boy, has it left its mark.
One UNESCO World Heritage listing wasn’t enough, so the city has been given two: one for classical Weimar with 13 buildings and architectural ensembles, and one for its Bauhaus sites.
The Weimar classic period from 1775 to 1832 flourished under the reign of Duchess Anna Amalia, and her library with the exquisite Rococo Hall is probably the most famous in the collection of eminent classical buildings. And while on the subject of libraries, Weimar is still best known around the world for its associations with Germany’s ‘national poets’ Goethe and Schiller who lived and worked in the town during the classic age. Goethe’s Home, part ofthe classical Weimar collection, also houses the Goethe National Museum. In August 2012, a new permanent exhibition was opened to honor the über-author, entitled ‘Floods of life, storm of deeds”’.
Fast forward into the 20th century and Weimar was again the birthplace of a movement, this time of the world’s most influential art and design school. In 1919, Walter Gropius established the Bauhaus School and assembled the whole of the European avantgarde of the time in Thuringia to teach at the new school of design. ‘Haus am Horn’, the most famous example of Bauhaus architecture, was built as a model house for the first architecture exhibition in 1923 and is one of three Bauhaus sites in Weimar.
As befits an institution that is dedicated to the roots of Modernism, the Bauhaus Museum, currently in a neoclassical building opposite the National Theatre, will finally get a new home. The winners of an international architectural competition for the new museum were announced in summer 2012 and the design sounds spectacular; a geometrically clear shape forming a dominant solitaire at the edge of the Weimarhallen park in the town centre.
Apart from all its elegant palaces, museums and beautiful parks, Weimar is also a very liveable town, keen on letting its hair down now and then. Every October since 1653 the Onion Festival (12 to 14 Oct 2012) celebrates the humble plant, and it is the biggest such festival worldwide. Onion garlands, decorated with colourful dried flowers, are popular souvenirs, there are stands selling handicrafts, food and drink, music and an Onion Market Queen who reigns for one year. The whole historic town centre is one big party and 350,000 visitors make this the biggest festival in Thuringia. Not quite UNESCO World Heritage material yet, but another reason why Weimar is more than worthwhile.
10/02/2012
Incantato's Crista Hartenstein at the NC ACDA
The 2012 North Carolina ACDA Fall Conference was held at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance from September 21-22.
The conference included a concert by the East Carolina University choir under the direction of Dr. Andrew Crane, whose remarkable performance was rewarded with a standing ovation by the audience.
The conference included a concert by the East Carolina University choir under the direction of Dr. Andrew Crane, whose remarkable performance was rewarded with a standing ovation by the audience.
9/25/2012
Great memories with VJ Rosales - Impromptu gig in Rieti
While the judges at NBC's THE VOICE did not pick our colleague VJ Rosales, we sure think he is a star. Imagine just getting on stage, like he did here at the magnificent Teatro di Rieti, in Italy, and singing without warm-up, rehearsal etc...
9/20/2012
Incantato Tours congratulates VJ Rosales for being on NBC's "The VOICE"
We could not be happier for our most talented colleague VJ Rosales for being one of the few selected talents to be featured on the 2012 season of NCB's "The Voice"!
8/28/2012
Ever wondered what "Carmina Burana" is really about?
Have a good laugh along with Incantato Concert Tours as we are planning our 2013 Performance Tours which will feature among other highlights a special performance of Carmina Burana in the beautiful German city of Weimar.
8/27/2012
See what happens on an Incantato Concert Tour
Here is the link to a parent video taken on the 2011 San Marino Chamber Choir Incantato Performance Tour to Italy. It sums up the events during their visit to Rieti, a truly special town in the very heart of this magical country. Enjoy!!!
8/23/2012
7/06/2012
SJC from Newfoundland kicks of performance tour to Ireland with a concert in Donaghadee
ISLAND TO ISLAND
A musical celebration of friendship between Northern Ireland and Newfoundland
Concert Time: Saturday 7th July at 7.30 pm at the first Presbyterian Church of Donghadee
“Island to Island” is the musical theme as well as the motto for the 2012 Performance Tour of the St. John’s Choir from St. John’s (SJC), Newfoundland
and Labrador, Canada. SJC is a true adult community choir whose members represent a broad section of St. John’s and its surrounding communities. Thesingers range in age from early twenties to seniors and are from all walks of life. Founded over 25 years ago, the St. John’s Choir is now being lead by Ms. Maria Conkey. SJC sings in four part harmony and has a large and varied repertoire of songs ranging from Broadway show tunes to Classical pieces, gospel to Newfoundland folk songs; spirituals to popular music.
The love of singing and a desire to bring music to the community at home and now to audiences across Ireland are the threads that hold the choir together.
Here is some more info on beautiful Donaghadee:
A musical celebration of friendship between Northern Ireland and Newfoundland
Concert Time: Saturday 7th July at 7.30 pm at the first Presbyterian Church of Donghadee
The love of singing and a desire to bring music to the community at home and now to audiences across Ireland are the threads that hold the choir together.
Here is some more info on beautiful Donaghadee:
What better place for the 32 singers from St. John's Newfoundland under the direction of Ms. Maria Conkey than to present the first concert of their 2012 Performance Tour at a fellow coastal town. First
Donaghadee Presbyterian Church, located in beautiful Donaghadee which is about 30 minutes outside of Belfast on Northern Ireland's stunning coast is the locality. Donaghadee is a
growing town on the north coast of County Down, six miles from the historic
town of Bangor and approximately 20 miles east of Belfast.
With a
population of about 8,000 inhabitants, Donaghadee is the closest point to
Scotland, so close in fact, that the Scottish coast is visible to the naked eye
on clear days. The town offers a rich history, having been one of the main
ports of entry to the island of Ireland until the 19th Century.
Aside from the historical buildings reflecting its rich heritage, the town has
a picturesque seafront, a wide range of cafes and restaurants.
6/21/2012
Princesses for a day - Phoenix Girls Chorus concludes Incantato Tour at Castle Hohenzollern
Fortified with a multitude of towers and turrets,
Hohenzollern Castle sits in splendour almost 900 metres above the
Swabian Alb. This is a storybook fortress from the heyday of the
neo-Gothic. On a balmy summer evening in 1819, the 24-year-old Prussian
Crown Prince saw the crumbling walls of his forefathers' castle and
decided to have it rebuilt. The future king Friedrich Wilhelm IV of
Prussia was a clever, enterprising man with a passion for the fine arts.
His heart belonged to the Middle Ages, which led him to commission
leading Berlin architect Friedrich August Stüler to rebuild the castle.
Stüler sought inspiration from medieval architecture in France and
England, where the Gothic Revival or neo-Gothic style was very much in
vogue. Building work began in 1852 and the restoration was completed in
1867. There are 140 rooms in the castle, most notably the library with
its murals, the King's bedroom, a family tree hall and the Queen's Blue
Salon. This has a stunning gilded coffered ceiling, an exquisite
marquetry floor and portraits of Prussian queens. Prussian memorabilia
displayed in the royal treasury includes the crown worn by Kaiser
Wilhelm II. A painted Hohenzollern family tree adorns the walls of the
castle's entrance hall. The Prussian kings, German emperors and their
descendants are documented through to the present day. Nearby
attractions: don't miss Ulm Münster, whose spire is the tallest in the
world at just over 161 metres. Most of the building work was completed
between 1377 and 1543 and it has retained its original character to this
day. The town of Villingen-Schwenningen has a medieval centre, an
early-Gothic minster, a late-Gothic town hall, the Franciscan Museum and
a town hall to discover.
As the finale and another highlight performance of their 2012 Incantato Tours, Phoenix Girls Chorus' prime ensemble "Cantabile" will give two concerts at Hohenzollern Castle on Friday, June 22, first at 2:30 pm and then at 3:15 pm, thus supporting the local Prinzessin-Kira-von-Preussen-Stiftung.
As the finale and another highlight performance of their 2012 Incantato Tours, Phoenix Girls Chorus' prime ensemble "Cantabile" will give two concerts at Hohenzollern Castle on Friday, June 22, first at 2:30 pm and then at 3:15 pm, thus supporting the local Prinzessin-Kira-von-Preussen-Stiftung.
6/18/2012
PGC "Cantabile" recital at the magnificent Stiftskirche Goettweig
What could possibly top this morning's concert experience for the Phoenix Girls Chorus' prime ensemble "Cantabile"? Could any church be as stunning as the Stiftskirche Duernstein with its blue steeple? The answer is yes and that's why the 31 talented girls from Arizona will be singing twice on Monday, June 18 as part of their Incantato Performance Tour to Germany and Austria. The second venue differs in color, now the church exterior is pretty in pink and white, but Stiftskirche Goettweig offers equal beauty in both looks and acoustics. The recital at the Benedictine Abbey starts at 5:30 pm local time and will be a sung Dankeschoen to the congregation of monks that are working and living at the abbey as well as visitors. It will also be a home concert for PGC in a way, as the girls are staying at the dormitory of the Abbey for yet another night - a special dinner awaits them after the performance at the gourmet restaurant which also features a stunning panoramic terrace overlooking the UNESCO world heritage are of the Danube Valley.
Here's a little background info:
The abbey, situated on the Göttweig Mountain, is - because of its location - sometimes called the Austrian Montecassino. The Monastery, founded in 1083 by Saint Altmann, sits on a hill 449 m above sea level in the Dunkelsteiner Forest south of the city of Krems, on the eastern edge of the world-famous Danube Valley called the Wachau. With the Wachau, Göttweig was in 2001 placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And today, PGC will be performing in the prestigious Stiftskirche pictured below.
At first, Augustines worked here, to be followed in 1094 by Benedictine monks from the Monastery of St. Blasien in the Black Forest. The Benedictines have been living, learning and teaching on Göttweig Mountain for more than 900 years. The goal of their life is to glorify God in prayer and work according to the Rule of their Order’s founder, Saint Benedict, the Patron Saint of Europe. Currently 54 monks belong to the monastic community. More than 30 of them give pastoral care to parishioners and pilgrims in the Dioceses of Vienna and St. Pölten. Forestry and viticulture have been the economic basis of the Monastery since it was founded - today completed by various touristic and economic efforts.
Here's a little background info:
The abbey, situated on the Göttweig Mountain, is - because of its location - sometimes called the Austrian Montecassino. The Monastery, founded in 1083 by Saint Altmann, sits on a hill 449 m above sea level in the Dunkelsteiner Forest south of the city of Krems, on the eastern edge of the world-famous Danube Valley called the Wachau. With the Wachau, Göttweig was in 2001 placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And today, PGC will be performing in the prestigious Stiftskirche pictured below.
At first, Augustines worked here, to be followed in 1094 by Benedictine monks from the Monastery of St. Blasien in the Black Forest. The Benedictines have been living, learning and teaching on Göttweig Mountain for more than 900 years. The goal of their life is to glorify God in prayer and work according to the Rule of their Order’s founder, Saint Benedict, the Patron Saint of Europe. Currently 54 monks belong to the monastic community. More than 30 of them give pastoral care to parishioners and pilgrims in the Dioceses of Vienna and St. Pölten. Forestry and viticulture have been the economic basis of the Monastery since it was founded - today completed by various touristic and economic efforts.
6/13/2012
Incantato hosts Tapas Reception for Emerging Choral Conducters at Chorus America Convention
Together with Chorosynthesis, Incantato Tours proudly hosts the event at Solera Cocina de Espana in downtown Minneapolis for 80+ up and coming choral conductors.
To learn more about the event, the hosts and organizations we proudly partner with please visit chorusamerica.org or the facebook for Chorosynthesis.
This is just one of several sponsorships that Incantato Tours gives in order to support the choral world.
Incantato Tours proudly presents: The Phoenix Girls Chorus in concert in Austria and Germany
31 singers from Phoenix Arizona's PGC, all members of the prime ensemble "Cantabile" under the direction of Ms. Danya Tiller, will be touring Austria and Germany with Incantato this June. Here is a first glance at their Incantato Tours Concert Poster.
For more information, visit: phoenixgirlschorus-incantatotour.blogspot.com
For more information, visit: phoenixgirlschorus-incantatotour.blogspot.com
5/24/2012
News at the Mozarthaus in Vienna!
Only one of Mozart’s apartments in Vienna still exists today, where the composer lived from 1784 to 1787. Here, the life and works of this musical genius are presented in and around the apartment on four exhibition levels. The exhibition focuses on his years in Vienna, which marked a high point in his creativity. In addition to this permanent exhibition, the Mozarthaus Vienna will once again provide a range of new offers and services:
Special exhibition extended
Due to the high level of public interest, the current special exhibition "Between Fear and Hope - Mozart's rise and fall in the Viennese society" has been extended until January 6th, 2013. Visitors can view the exhibition with the regular ticket for Mozarthaus Vienna. The exhibition features letters and documents that illustrate the musical genuis' varying degrees of success.
Concert program for the 2012/23 season
A comprehensive concert program completes the offer of the Mozarthaus Vienna in the upcoming 2012/13 season. Click on the following link for the detailed program (available in the summer): Mozarthaus Vienna - Events - Concerts
Special "museum and concert" package
Our special "museum and concert" package combines a visit to the museum with an exclusive concert in the concert hall of the Mozarthaus Vienna. The standard package can be upgraded to include a guided tour and can also be booked to take place outside of regular opening hours.
For further information you can either contact them under ticket@mozarthausvienna.at or take a look at the website section for special offers for groups.
5/22/2012
Phoenix Girls Chorus sings at Salzburger Dom
The Phoenix Girls Chorus' prime ensemble "Cantabile" will sing at the Salzburg Cathedral also known as Salzburger Dom in the city of Salzburg, Austria as part of their Incantato Tour to Germany and Austria. The 32 girls under the direction of Ms. Danya Tiller are presenting a recital on Wednesday, June 20 at 2 pm.Located where Residenzplatz flows into Domplatz in Salzburg, Salzburg Cathedral (also known as Domkirche St. Rupert) is renowned for its harmonious Baroque architecture and 4,000-pipe organ. This site has hosted a Christian church since 774. The original was replaced with a late-Romanesque structure built in 1181-1200.The Romanesque cathedral burned down in 1598 and Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich took advantage of (some would say caused) the destruction to demolish the rest and make plans for a grand new cathedral to reaffirm Salzburg's commitment to the Catholic cause in the face of the Reformation. However, Dietrich's overthrow prevented the completion of this project. The present cathedral was commissioned by Archbishop Markus Sittikus Count Hohenems and designed by the Italian architect Santino Solari. It was consecrated in 1628 by Archbishop Paris Count Lodron. The cathedral's plaza is a complete aesthetic concept and one of Salzburg's most beautiful urban set pieces. In the center rises the Virgin's Column with a 1771 statue of the Virgin Mary. Considered by some to be the most perfect Renaissance building in the German-speaking countries, Salzburg Cathedral has a marble facade, twin west towers topped with green domes and a large green-roofed dome over the crossing. The bronze doors (1959) illustrate the themes of Faith, Hope, and Love. Near the entrance, look for the Romanesque font at which Mozart was baptized. The great composer later served as organist here from 1779 to 1781. Some of his compositions, such as the Coronation Mass, were written for the cathedral, and many were performed here for the first time.
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