Discography
CANTORI PRODUCTIONS
THE ELEMENTS (2021)
Philip Lasser’s poignant cycle — a Cantori commission —sets American anti-war poetry by e.e. cummings, Robert Frost and Ernest Hemingway. We presented its world premiere in 2018 in a special program honoring the centenary of the armistice that ended World War I.
Lasser is a professor at Juilliard and directs the EAMA-Nadia Boulanger Institute in Paris for composers, conductors, and chamber musicians. His prolific works have been commissioned and performed by ensembles around the world.
Written for chamber chorus and cello duet, The Elements features cellists Ari Evan and Philip Sheegog.
Available for purchase & streaming, beginning March 20.
THE METAMORPHOSES OF PAUL CRABTREE (2008)
One of Cantori's favorite emerging composers, Paul Crabtree writes "utterly compelling music that relates beatifully to our time," (Palm Beach Post). Weaving texts by Ovid, Ted Hughes, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Rachel Corrie into sensuous musical tapestries, Crabtree devastatingly retells the legends of Persephone and Hermaphroditus.
Produced by Cantori New York (Mark Shapiro, Artistic Director), with featured soloists Heather Johnson and Randall Scotting.
LE VIN HERBÉ (2000)
A Rarely Performed Masterpiece
Cantori New York's Le Vin Herbé was the "Editor's Choice" of Opera News in July, 2000. It was acclaimed by the Baltimore Sun as "Dramatic, superbly recorded." Steven Tharp and Laura Danehower Whyte are featured soloists, and other roles are filled by members of the chorus.
From the CD booklet notes: "Le Vin Herbé holds a special place in the hearts and history of Cantori New York. We first performed it during my inaugural season as the group's conductor, and again eight years later to celebrate Cantori's fifteenth season. Many of us cherish these performances as highlights of our musical lives...
We are confident Frank Martin would have appreciated our love for this piece and hailed the flexibility that has enabled us to remain committed to it. We would be delighted if our recording helped other choruses, especially volunteer choruses, to become aware of this wonderful piece and inspire them to program it. Le Vin Herbé, a work for the ages if ever there was one, merits a wider public." --Mark Shapiro
ECHOES AND SHADOWS (1997)
Our first CD, Echoes and Shadows, was recorded for PGM Ars Nova. Soloists are Katherine Harris, soprano, and Nathaniel Watson, baritone. The recording features three contemporary American works for chorus, string ensemble and percussion: Tom Cipullo's The Shadows Around the House, Chris DeBlasio's The Best-Beloved, and James Wagoner's The Song of Solomon.
Echoes and Shadows is available for purchase and streaming on all your favorite music platforms.
COLLABORATIONS
FIVE (2002)
Cantori is featured on tracks two and five of this collection by celebrated New York composer Michael Dellaira.
Holiday music
A CANTORI CHRISTMAS (2003)
Featuring traditional carols and songs of the season as performed by Cantori New York, conducted by Artistic Director Mark Shapiro. Included are many of the works heard at Cantori's annual Holiday Concert, including Silent Night, Infant Holy, and Deck the Hall.
GLOBAL VOICES:
A CANTORI CELEBRATION (2005)
Cantori New York's second holiday CD features seasonal songs from around the world performed in true Cantori style. Exciting percussion and piano stylings accompany Cantori's beautiful vocal blending on familiar and lesser known classic holiday settings from Africa, China, Israel, traditional American, English and Gospel songs.