Eduardo Azzati happy about this year's Women's Chorus

A couple posts ago I wrote about the Moravian College Womens Chorus, and their music and progress this semester. I mentioned that the progress was going very smoothly, especially to the delight of the director, Eduardo Azzati, who has been teaching at the college since 1998. I wanted to know a little more about his thoughts on the music he chose and the ensemble this semester. I asked him a few questions, and it seems that he is just as excited about the group as us, the members of the ensemble!

Why did you choose the pieces that you did this semester? 
After doing a theme program last semester (all baroque music from the Venetian Ospedali) this semester I wanted to create a varied program that takes us and the listener on sort of a music history tour, from 14th century plain chant to arrangements of music of our time, including two pieces from the renaissance, a piece from the baroque era, a piece from  the classical era, a piece from late romanticism, a piece by a living composer on 15th century macaronic English, a contemporary arrangement of a show tune and a spiritual.

Are there any pieces that you like especially?
I like all the pieces I have chosen but I do have a soft spot for "Nigra Sum" by Pablo Casals and for the arrangement we are doing of "Over the Rainbow."

Also, what do you think of the group this semester? The sound, the members, how rehearsals are going so far, etc.
The group is awesome this semester. It is slightly smaller than other years with a lighter, clearer, purer sound, rhythmically tighter and more accurate. The members are very commited and work hard which make rehearsals go more smoothly and productively. I think so far we have accomplished a great deal in the short month or so we've been rehearsing.

Do you have fun directing the chorus?
lots of fun!

WIth each rehearsal the group just keeps getting better! Come see the culmination of all their hard work on Sunday, November 13th at 4 p.m. in Foy Hall!