Lauridsen Weekend 2006

The Angeles Chorale sponsored a very successful choral workshop at Asilomar, on the Monterey Peninsula, over the Labor Day weekend. It brought together singers from across the country as well as the Republic of Korea. Under the direction of Donald Neuen and Morten Lauridsen, they prepared Dirait-on, O Magnum Mysterium, and Lux Aeternum, presenting a free public concert on Sunday, September 3.

Lauridsen gave a fine introduction to his music and compositional style on Friday evening, which set the tone for the weekend. Maestro Neuen rehearsed the chorus in three sessions on Saturday, but Sunday morning he was taken to the Monterey Hospital with chest pains. He was transferred to the regional hospital in Salinas, where he underwent quadruple bypass surgery on Tuesday. He has recovered very well from surgery and is now at home for a period of recuperation and rest.

Meanwhile the preparation for the Sunday concert continued under the able direction of the assistant conductor for the workshop, Paul Neal. Paul is a doctoral student in Choral Conducting under Professor Neuen at UCLA. He is very familiar with the Lauridsen works, having used Lux Aeterna as his audition piece for entry into the UCLA conducting program. Morten Lauridsen was present for all of the rehearsals and was well pleased with the results.

The concert program was rounded out by organist Timothy Howard, who served at rehearsal accompanist for the weekend and performed a Prelude and Fugue in G-minor, from Opus 7, by Marcel Dupré.

At the Monday wrap-up session after everyone had listened to the recording of the concert, Lauridsen and Neal shared their feelings about the performance. They credited Donald Neuen for his thorough understanding of the works and his leadership in the early rehearsals. Evaluations from the participants were unanimous in praising the event, citing particularly the value of having the composer present and an active participant in the rehearsal process.

Pictures All pictures courtesy of Rob Briner, photographer

Don Neuen conducting a rehearsal, Morten Lauridsen on stage to right, Timothy Howard at the piano.

Don Neuen in rehearsal with an oddly prophetic sign behind him.

Signing autographs after a successful performance.

Morten Lauridsen and Paul Neal with some happy singers on Monday morning.

Here is the group portrait taken by Ray DeTournay on Monday morning (on a borrowed memory chip). Apologies for being so tardy with this -- I had forgotten to whom the chip belonged!  If you would like to download the high resolution picture click here. If you would like a print, contact Sharon Mountford

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