Once again, early May begins with it a basketful of music in Durango. The first weekend alone has three major performances. If you plan well, you can make them all.
At 7 p.m. Friday, the always surprising Unitarian Chamber Series welcomes clarinetist Lori Lovato and friends performing works by Gershwin, Benny Goodman, Paquito Di’Rivera, Eddie Daniels and the young American composer Philip Parker. Like many of his predecessors, Parker combines classical and jazz elements in his music. Lovato will nod to the classical tradition with Debussy’s “Première Rhapsodie.” It was written for a clarinet composition at the Conservatoire de Paris and later reconfigured for clarinet and orchestra. It’s now part of the standard repertoire for clarinet.
Lovato plays with the San Juan Symphony, Opera Southwest, the New Mexico and Santa Fe orchestras. She also performs with chamber groups around the country. A graduate of Northeastern University and the University of New Mexico, she maintains a studio in Albuquerque. She will be joined by bassist Frank Murry and pianist Marilyn Mangold Garst. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for students and children, at the door. This recital closes the 2024-25 UUFD season.
On Saturday afternoon, a musical outpouring at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will include singers from a number of choirs in a world premiere. “Mass of the Angels,” by Ethan Neal, will receive its first performance combining the Fort Lewis College Chamber Choir, the UUFD Diversitones and singers from the Durango Choral Society. Conducted by Hanna Duff, director of choirs at FLC, it will be her farewell concert. After only one year in residence, she leaves for the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music to begin her doctoral studies.
“Ethan and I met at the Cincinnati Conservatory summer conducting program,” Duff said. “We will be studio mates this fall, so this is a heartfelt and bittersweet goodbye to a wonderful community.
“Ethan’s ‘Mass’ is based on traditional Gregorian chant but with modern harmonizations,” she said. “One of my favorite movements is the Credo. It features all singers singing text at their own pace, creating a scene of everyone expressing their individual prayers in their own faith traditions but in community with one another.”
The second half of the program will feature Neal on St. Mark’s magnificent organ. Neal is an award-winning conductor, composer, singer and organist based in Cincinnati. Currently, he is the director of music at All Saints Episcopal Church. The dual recital is free to the public, but donations will be most welcome.
At 5 p.m. Sunday, the Durango Choral Society returns to the Durango Arts Center for its annual Cabaret. Directed by Rhonda Muckerman, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” is the title of the afternoon soiree of popular songs from movies and musical theater. Ragtime pianist Adam Swanson will open the show followed by the Society’s singers, Durango Women’s Choir and selected soloists.
The Cabaret is the organization’s annual fundraiser. Different from previous years in the FLC ballroom, the reconfigured event has a $40 ticket price, available at durangochoralsociety.org. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. Expect to hear music from “Wicked,” “Phantom of the Opera” and crooners like Nat King Cole.
Three concerts – three days. It can be done.
Judith Reynolds is an arts journalist and member of the American Theatre Critics Association.
