Oops – I’m a little late on this one. If you’ve read my CP preview (see the May 23 preview issue, or our website), then you already know about Dr. Joe Miller’s impending Spoleto debut with the same Westminster Choir that we’ve heard up to now under the baton of his predecessor, Joseph Flummerfelt. After Flum’s recent retirement, his initial successor didn’t work out – but Miller settled the matter by leaping into the breach about a year ago.
And we have reason to expect nothing but the best from him. First, Westminster College – the nation’s most prestigious choir school – wouldn’t have hired him if they didn’t think he was the right man for the job – and we’re talking the Ivy League of the choral world here, folks.
We didn’t get very far into our pleasant phone interview a couple of weeks ago before I realized how closely Miller is attuned to the cutting-edge of today’s international choral scene. We discussed trends, choirs, composers and recordings that are the buzz of the business these days.
One of his most impressive associations is his recent work with Estonian Choral guru Tonu Kalljuste, whose fabulous choirs (especially the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir) have been numbered among the world’s very finest. Miller hinted that we might be hearing some of that choir’s stylistic and sonic qualities in the Westminster events. If any choir has what it takes to produce that kind of vocal beauty and richness, it’s the Westminster bunch.
Also, if you haven’t snatched your copy of the CP preview issue, you may not be aware that there’ll be two pairs of concerts this year. On top of the usual pair of full-choir events (5:00 p.m., May 31 and June 7 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church), there’ll be a separate program entitled Les Angelus – for women’s voices only. It’ll also happen twice (5:00 p.m., May 28 & June 2 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church). The bonus program is happening because the ladies don’t have any opera chorus duties this time ‘round – and, by golly, we’re gonna make ‘em sing for their supper! And from the prospective listener’s standpoint, I see absolutely no cause for complaint.
Remember, this “new Joe” has fallen heir to perhaps the world’s finest college choir. The word is that they sound absolutely amazing with him at the helm – and several of the Westminster singers I’ve gabbed with at Millennium Music have spoken of him with real enthusiasm and reverence. I can’t venture a guess as to whether they’ll sound better or worse than they did under “Flum” – but of one thing we can be fairly sure: they’ll sound different. With voices like these at work, that should hardly be cause for concern.
