Performing Arts

Telluride Choral Society Presents:  “A Stream of Consciousness”

 The Women's and Men's choruses of the Telluride Choral Society will be performing an eclectic collection of choral music entitled "A Stream of Consciousness" at Christ Church. The final performance is Sunday afternoon, August 2nd at 3pm.  There will be something for everyone to enjoy in this hour and 15 minute concert, from Prairie Women to Drunken Sailors, from Schubert to Broadway and much more. Dr. David Lingle will be conducting and Bobby Shaffer will accompany on the piano.

Dr. Lingle did not have a particular theme in mind when he set the repertoire for this concert, he simply picked literature he liked.  Those selections in combination with suggestions from several chorus members shaped the literature.  Originally a women's ensemble was planned, but a men's group emerged, and additional songs were added to round out the program.  "Several of the women's pieces that are just plain gorgeous." stated Lingle. "Specifically the Lauridsen setting of the Rilke poem, Dirait-on, the Pablo Caslas, Nigra Sum, and the Erb arrangement of Shenandoah are beautifully constucted with rich Romantic Style period harmonies."  he continued.  Molly Fast will sing all four parts from "The Erlking", Schubert's setting of the epic poem by Goethe, and Sharon Sharp will demonstrate her incredible vocal range when performing the first Coloratura aria from the Pirates of Penzance.

Telluride Choral Society Concert, July 30 & August 2

The Telluride Choral Society will present a concert at Christ Church (434 W. Columbia) on Thursday, July 30 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, August 2 at 3: pm. The concert includes a variety of music, from Bach and Schubert to Broadway musicals.

See below for the concert program.

Telluride Americana Music Weekend starts July 23, 8 p.m.

Eric Bibb

At the Sheridan Opera House this weekend, starting July 23, Austin native Steve Stagner adds other names to the list of singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists who take old music and serve it up as something familiar yet fresh, be it a honky tonk shuffle from the 1950s or an original bluegrass-inflected tune. The line-up for the 3rd annual Telluride Americana Music Weekend includes North Carolina native Shannon Whitworth, two of Austin's best songwriters, Kevin Welch and Walt Wilkins, troubadour Slaid Cleaves, Tift Merritt, Nashville writer Irene Kelley and acoustic blues musician Eric Bibb.

Steve Stagner is a part-time Telluride local. In Austin, he and his wife, both music buffs, built a small amphitheater in their backyard (seating for 125 give or take) for house concerts featuring friends who happen to be acoustic musicians. Several years ago, the couple started bringing some of their talented friends to Telluride to play the Sheridan Opera House. Stagner is passionate about Americana music, which he defines as "Story-driven acoustic music." KOTO musical director Suzanne Cheavens sums up in her blog:

Emma Hill at Telluride’s Sheridan Opera House, July 18th

[click "Play" to hear Eileen's conversation with Emma Hill Telluride's Sheridan Opera House will host rising folk star Emma Hill and her Gentleman Callers tonight, Saturday July 18th at at 7pm.  Hill was born in a small Alaskan village with virtually no cultural influences. For...

Sparky’s Playwrights’ Festival: fundraiser Saturday, July 11

The play's the thing....

Jennie Franks and Sparky Productions brings the 3rd annual Telluride Playwrights' Festival to town this week. The idea is to get playwrights and actors working together to develop new plays. The general public is encouraged to attend workshops and readings to give the playwrights the feedback they need to refine their scripts.

Last week was the preview. The Telluride Playwrights' Festival opened with a reading at the historic Sheridan Opera House. Written by Jennie Franks, the one-act black comedy, "Dr. Freeman & Hilda,"  is ostensibly about the famous lobotomist Dr. Walter Freeman. Jennie, however, is a keen, sometimes harsh chronicler of society's foibles, and she generally paints with a much broader brush.

George Clinton, and Parliament-Funkadelic to Rock Telluride Town Park July 11th

Yes, Telluride funksters and funksterettes, the godfather of Funk himself, George Clinton will headline the 13th annual KOTO Doo Dah today, in Town Park, with opening act Rusted Root.  The legendary architect of P-Funk has  also been called one of the most important innovators of funk music, next to James Brown and Sly Stone.  Clinton came from a background in R and B and went on to create a new genre of music.

His leap from doo wap to psychodelic space rock was influenced by many artists, including James Brown, Jimi Hendrix.  According to his bio, "Parliament and Funkadelic dominated and revolutionized the music scene in the latter half of the Seventies—particularly in 1978 and 1979, when they racked up four #1 R&B hits: “Flash Light,” “One Nation Under a Groove,” Aqua Boogie” and “(Not Just) Knee Deep.” Clinton’s main collaborators during Parliament-Funkadelic’s heyday included keyboardists Bernie Worrell and Walter “Junie” Morrison and bassist William “Bootsy” Collins."  George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on May 6, 1997.   Clinton recently released a solo album titled George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love, which is largely a cover with many great songs such as Fever, Gipsy Woman and Let the Good Times Roll.  Gangsters features guest appearances from many artists including Sly Stone, Santana  and Red Hot Chilly Peppers and gospel great Kim Burrel.