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Conspirare's annual "Christmas at the Carillon" Austin event has been attracting enthusiastic admirers since 1994. In its critically-acclaimed holiday series, this outstanding choral group presents a stunning musical collage blending diverse genres (classical, gospel, pop, jazz) into a seamless seasonal event. Very cool! Love Calls You: Christmas at the Carillon 2006 was my first exposure to this Austin institution, and I came away very impressed and sorry that I have not yet savored this experience firsthand.

Interestingly, the album opens with the roar of prolonged applause, so the listener is immediately placed in the concert hall seat. But this is no ordinary concert hall--it is the Carillon, and the hall carries a warm reverb that envelops the listener in a hushed blanket of splendor that is perfect for this sort of music. New Orleans jazz vocalist John Boutte delivers powerful solos throughout the album, all excellent. His raspy Please Send Me Someone to Love demonstrated controlled gymnastics that convinced me to check out the talented singer's other releases. He is terrific.

Conpirare naturally nails the musicality on every piece. Craig Hella Johnson's artful arrangements and masterful direction make this package a complete pleasure. For just one example of the fine interplay between numbers, Please Send Me Someone to Love segues into the classic Lo How a Rose e'er Blooming, with a fascinating, subtle, jazzy piano underlay supporting the serious choral delivery--I have never heard anything quite like it. The album then rolls into another mesmerizing Boutte piece, Annie Lennox's A Thousand Beautiful Things. Really, the music mix here is quite astounding, from Leonard Cohen (including the title track) to Sam Cooke to traditional carols, hymns, spirituals, and even Gregorian chant! And the inspired medleys! Blending Nearer My God to Thee withWhen I Fall in Love, and Silent Night with Impossible Dream (and Imagine tossed into the mix)? Seriously, how does Johnson come up with this stuff? Fantastic.

When I first received Love Calls You: Christmas at the Carillon 2006 and read what it was attempting to achieve, I had my doubts. After all, combining classical with other genres can sound uncomfortably forced. I am extremely pleased, however, to report that Craig Hella Johnson and Conspirare (with important support from John Boutte) pull off the impossible here with professionalism and style.

The creative concert ends with a stirring I Could Have Danced All Night; not the typical holiday closer, the choice exemplifies how intensely unique this offering is. Simply wonderful! Love Calls You and the series releases from other years are available through the Conspirare Website.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

Craig Hella Johnson: Founding Artistic Director of Conspirare. Johnson has earned a reputation as one of the finest choral conductors in the United States.

John Boutte: Featured vocalist

Company of Voices:

Soprano: Jeannie Barrick, Kathlene Ritch Brown (solo 3,13,16,24), Cynthia Gonzales, Nicole LaMartine, Gitanjali Mathur (solo, 24), Nina Revering (solo, 13), Kay Sherrill
Alto: Pam Elrod (solo, 2), Rebecca Frazier-Smith, Stella Hastings, Linda Ramsey, Jennifer Whatley
Tenor: Carr Hornbuckle (solo, 16), Tracy Shirk, Jason Slayden, Jonathon Subia, Dean Revering (solo, 24)
Bass: David Farwig (solo, 3,15,18,24), Rick Gabrillo, Paul Guttry (solo, 4), Robert Harlan, Jonah Kliewer

Recorded live at The Carillon, Austin, Texas, December 10, 2006.

Conspirare respects and celebrates the great diversity of spiritual and human experinces represented among our singers and listeners. Christmas at the Carillon is a unique concert tradition which began in 1994. Recorded in one of Austin's most beautiful acoustic spaces, the Carillon chapel, these intimate performances are an innovative and daring blending of sacred and secular, art music and popular music, concert hall performance and community sing. The shared musical experiences are intended to bring us together in a spirit of unity, peace, and hope, and to reflect upon the sacredness of all things.


From the Website:

Now in its 15th performance season, Conspirare combines outstanding professional vocal artistry with innovative programming to create a unique and dynamic choral art. Under the leadership of Founder and Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson, Conspirare is comprised of three performing ensembles: a professional chamber choir of singers from around the country that is presented in an annual concert series in Austin and other central Texas cities and tours internationally; a symphonic choir of both professional and volunteer singers that presents at least one large choral/orchestral work annually; and the Conspirare Youth Choir, a training program for young singers, ages 9-16.

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Love Calls You: Christmas at the Carillon

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