The Hamelin Children's Chorus

My work with PARMA continues to amaze me. Last weekend, I went to New York City to produce a recording session with The Hamelin Children's Chorus, comprised of select members from the The Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus. We recorded a piece entitled, "Fever Time" by composer and chorus director, Tony Piccolo. 

To say these kids are world-class would be to understate just how impressive their talent truly is. They knocked my socks off. With an average age somewhere around nine years old, this group of boys and girls arrived at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music on W. 37th Street, ready to rock. They had the entire piece memorized, eyes fixated on Mr. Piccolo, following his every cue, entrances and cut-offs perfect and intonation sparkling. This calibre of talent and professionalism, coupled with Mr. Piccolo's engaging music and lyricist Susan Kander's poetry was completely captivating. 

Who would anticipate a contemporary classical piece conveying the feeling of being sticken with fever and laying in bed, listening to and observing the sparse sights and sounds of time passing slowly: a tea kettle boiling, a "bug" crawling along the widow, family voices...The effect is enchanting.

This piece will be included on a full-length PARMA recording of Mr. Piccolo's compositions. The CD will also include a sonata for solo cello, which was recorded in Olomouc, Czech Republic this past March. I had the pleasure of being a part of that session as well and look forward to its upcoming release.