Arete to sing 'Eleanor Rigby,' 'St. Cecilia'

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – March 22, 2013) Areté Vocal Ensemble will conclude its fourth season at California Lutheran University with a concert of British music by The Beatles and a 20th century composer known for his choral works.

“The British Are Coming! Part II” will be performed at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14, in Samuelson Chapel. This is the second of two concerts commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the English composer Benjamin Britten and the 50th anniversary of the formation of The Beatles.

The program will include Beatles favorites “Blackbird,” “I Will,” “The Fool On The Hill,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “Come Together,” “We Can Work It Out,” “All You Need Is Love” and “Medley.” Popular songs by Britten will include “Hymn to St. Cecilia, Op. 27,” songs from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 64” and “Five Flower Songs, Op. 47.”

Areté is an innovative professional ensemble of vocal artists based at CLU. Music director and conductor Wyant Morton created the ensemble with the goal of performing the widest possible vocal and choral repertoire, including works from essentially all periods of music. Special attention is given to contemporary, experimental, improvisatory, “cross-over” and ethnic music.

The ensemble, which takes its name from the Greek word meaning striving for excellence, focuses on performing the new, the unknown and the unconventional with energy, passion, expertise and virtuosity. Through the combined power of words and music, an uncompromising attention to musical detail and a passion for live performance, Areté offers audiences a joyful, moving, educational and soul-nurturing experience.

Morton is director of choral and vocal activities, chair of the music department and a professor of music at CLU. He also maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator appearing throughout the United States and Canada.

The chapel is located south of Olsen Road near the corner of Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks. Additional parking is available at the corner of Olsen Road and Mountclef Boulevard.

Tickets purchased online in advance are $15. Tickets purchased at the door are $20. Children younger than 12 are free. For information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.aretevocalensemble.org.