Chanticleer is simply phenomenal.more at La Crosse Tribune
The 12-member San Francisco-based male a cappella vocal ensemble gave a Grammy-Award winning performance Tuesday night at Viterbo University. It will go down in Bright Star Season history as one of the most memorable concerts
It was probably the best choral concert I've ever seen. Well, one of the best. That's because I also loved the two previous Chanticleer concerts in La Crosse.
A near sellout crowd in Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre gave the world-class group several standing ovations, but it was the crowd's enthusiastic applause after several gorgeous pieces that stood out.
This crowd really appreciated the polish, the professionalism and the musicianship of Chanticleer.
This special concert had a beautiful climax when Chanticleer sang its famous "Ave Maria" as an encore. It was a perfect ending to a perfect concert.
The crowd didn't know that Chanticleer just doesn't perform "Ave Maria" outside the Christmas concert season. But Matt Curtis, a La Crosse native who sings with Chanticleer, asked his fellow members to sing the piece for him on his hometown stage as an encore.
Despite the great ovation, I was worried the crowd would not applaud long enough to get that encore. But it happened -- and it was one of the finest endings to any concert. Curtis was featured in the trio in "Ave Maria."
Curtis explained to the crowd that "Ave Maria" was his favorite Chanticleer number. He took the time before the encore to thank everyone, from his family to his professors, for making this homecoming special.
A La Crosse Aquinas and Viterbo graduate, Curtis said he first performed on the Viterbo stage where he sang with the La Crosse Boychoir at the age of 7.
"Being a member of Chanticleer is something I strived for," Curtis said in an interview. "It was something I knew I had the skills for and and ability to do. It's a very special dream come true.
"To come home, to sing in front of a hometown crowd is really cool," he said.
Curtis, a 25-year-old tenor, is a leading voice in Chanticleer and his clean, clear, concise voice fits wonderfully with this group.
I wish I could have attended. Were any other readers there?
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