Chorale Director Goes Bold: Audiences Find Dramatic Music Appealing;
October 15th, 2009 in the Press ReleaseOak Park, IL -- America's audiences are used to drama in Hollywood TV, movies and music videos, and now video games. The findings are not new. According to the Oak Park Concert Chorale’s Paul Lindblad, it seems audiences increasingly want more and more dramatic entertainment. Lindblad has taken a giant step towards giving audiences what they want by putting together a season-opening concert that includes ideas of darkness and light. The Oak Park Concert Chorale will be singing all sorts of smart songs for the opening weekends of the Christmas Season: Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 4:00 at St. John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle in Forest Park; Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 4:00 at Cornerstone Church 171 North Cuyler in Oak Park; and Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 4:00 at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, 3121 West Jackson in Chicago, Illinois.
The traditional Christmas concerts usually only focus on the lighthearted and uplifting. This year, Lindblad decided to include a bit more of the struggle of the Christmas season, in order to juxtapose it with the triumphs. He was surprised by the level of beauty and drama expressed in these messages, Lindblad seems to imply. Christmas music and composers are far more varied than most people would imagine. The Oak Park Concert Chorale has done a true service by bringing this music to the public's attention. New and unfamiliar music will stand alongside “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” and reflect the passion of Lindblad’s vision for the 2009-2010 Season.