The Rose Ensemble 2006-2007 Season
Photo: V. Paul Virtucio
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- Rosa das Rosas: Cantigas de Santa Maria and other Spiritual Songs for the Virgin
- Christmas in Elizabethan England
- The Separation: A Song Cycle on Church and State
- Candlelight Concert: Mystics, Prophets, Sages & Seers
- Courtly Pleasures in Baroque Stockholm and Rome: Music for Christina Wasa, Queen of Sweden
- Gregorian Vespers Series
Our 11th Anniversary Season
Simply put, our second decade of honoring history is off to a wonderful start. And, as always, we've programmed an incredible new season of performances with you in mind. With concerts exploring fascinating times like Elizabethan England and Medieval Spain, as well as a special program focusing on the life of Christina, Queen of Sweden, we continue our tradition of producing for you - our audience - innovative and unique artistic offerings found nowhere else.
For our regular concert venues, we've kept the intimate Saint Paul Seminary Chapel, the majestic Basilica of Saint Mary and the increasingly popular Trinity Lutheran in Stillwater, but we've also added the lovely Saint Thomas Aquinas Chapel on the Saint Paul campus of the University of Saint Thomas. And in addition to a renewed Duluth series, there are several other performances throughout the state in such cities as Saint Cloud, Saint Peter and others.
Thanks to your feedback, we are offering a whole new palette of pre-concert discussions and free workshops throughout the year. Two Sunday matinees also appear on this season's calendar and, as promised, we've kept ticket prices affordable with more substantial discounts on FLEX subscriptions and $15 seats for all Twin Cities performances.
I look forward to seeing you this concert season!
- Jordan Sramek, Founder/Artistic Director

*SPECIAL CD-RELEASE CONCERTS*
Rosa das Rosas: Cantigas de Santa Maria and other Spiritual Songs
for the Virgin
Centuries of dedication and folklore in the courts and chapels of early Spain, Italy and Portugal produced music with rhythms that reverberated across the Mediterranean. Come celebrate with us our new recording spanning four centuries of vocal and instrumental music, including a diverse collection of Iberian Cantigas de Santa Maria, Arab-Andalusian dances and Italian spiritual songs - all telling of sometimes-humorous, always-incredible saintly miracles. Just added: special state-wide tour!
Friday, October 20, 2006, 7:30pm
(pre-concert discussion with Jordan Sramek at 6:30pm)
Weber Hall - University of Minnesota Duluth
1151 University Drive, Duluth ($20 & $12, general seating)
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Tickets
Saturday, October 21, 2006, 7:30pm
(no pre-concert discussion this evening)
The Cathedral of Saint Mary
25 8th Avenue South, St. Cloud ($20 & $12, general seating)
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Tickets
Sunday, October 22, 2006, 3:00pm
(pre-concert discussion with Jordan Sramek at 2:00 pm)
Saint Thomas Aquinas Chapel, University of Saint Thomas
Cleveland Avenue (just north of Summit), Saint Paul ($25 & $15, general
seating)
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Tickets
Want to learn more about music-making and manuscripts in 13th-14th-century Spain?
Join Jordan Sramek and members of The Rose Ensemble for a free workshop and discussion focusing on the music and manuscript sources of this program.
(No previous experience or knowledge necessary.)Tuesday, October 17, 2006, 7:00-9:00pm
Landmark Center, Courtroom 317
75 W. 5th St., Saint Paul, MN
Just added: Special Statewide Tour!
Friday, November 3, 7:30 pm
Peace Lutheran Church, FARGO
1011 12th Avenue North
$10 ($5 students/seniors) | General seating (tickets available at the
door)
Saturday, November 4, 7:30 pm
A Center for the Arts, FERGUS
FALLS
124 West Lincoln Avenue
$10 ($5 students/seniors) | General seating (tickets available at the
door)
Friday, November 10, 7:30 pm
Saint Mary's Catholic Church, WILLMAR
713 12th Street SW
$10 ($5 students/seniors) | General seating (tickets available at the
door)
Saturday, November 11, 7:30 pm
Alexandria United Methodist Church,
ALEXANDRIA
2210 6th Avenue East
$10 ($5 students/seniors) | General seating (tickets available at the
door)
Touring performances made possible by the Otto Bremer Foundation.

Christmas in Elizabethan England
Narrated by Rudy Maxa, Public Radio's "Savvy Traveler"
This long-awaited program of glorious English Renaissance delights has something for every holiday concert-goer: Latin and English motets by Thomas Tallis and William Byrd, joyful early carols and dances, and a beautiful new work by beloved Twin Cities composer Abbie Betinis. Also features special guests, Julie Elhard (viola da gamba) and Phillip Rukavina (lute).
Phillip Rukavina
Julie Elhard
Rudy Maxa
Thursday, December 21, 2006, 7:30pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
115 N 4th Street (at Myrtle), Stillwater ($25 & $15, general seating)
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Tickets
Friday, December 22, 2006, 8:00pm
Saint Thomas Aquinas Chapel, University of Saint Thomas
Cleveland Avenue (just north of Summit), Saint Paul ($15, $23 & $33, reserved
seating)
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Tickets
Saturday, December 23, 2006, 8:00pm
The Basilica of Saint Mary
88 N 17th Street, Minneapolis ($15, $23 & $33, reserved seating)
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Tickets
The Separation: A Song Cycle on Church and State
Previte's young metal-infused electric band the Coalition of the Willing crashes into the mystical voices of The Rose Ensemble in a reimagination of both Guillaume Dufay's 15th-century choral epic Missa Sancti Jacobi and Olivier Messiaen's organ masterwork La Nativité du Seigneur. In a critical examination of religion in contemporary society, Hungarian artist Anna Kiraly splashes her eerie animated films across Kleine's dark story inspired by the dueling desires of conformity and individuality.
Bobby Previte
Friday & Saturday, February 2-3, 2007, 8:00pm
Walker Art Center (McGuire Theatre)
725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis ($25, general seating; $20 Walker members)
Note: tickets for this special performance must be purchased through the Walker Art Center. Please call the Walker's box office at (612) 375-7600 or purchase online at www.walkerart.org
The Walker Art Center is sponsored by: Macy's Gives
Media partner: 89.3 The Current
Want to learn more about this performance?
Join composer Bobby Previte and members of The Rose Ensemble for a conversation about the making of The Separation.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 7:00-9:00pm
Merriam Park Branch Library
1831 Marshall Ave., Saint Paul, MN
(Sponsored by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library)
Candlelight Concert: Mystics, Prophets, Sages & Seers
with MPR's Tom Crann as narrator
A program of gorgeous Medieval and Renaissance music exploring prophetic and mystical texts from many world religions and the insight and spirituality shared by people from all cultures and nations. Includes the music and poetry of 12th-century mystic nun, Hildegard von Bingen, Renaissance Lenten motets and new works by Minnesota composers Edie Hill and Abbie Betinis - all performed entirely by candlelight and narrated by MPR's Tom Crann. Also features a pre-concert discussion led by Rose Ensemble member and musicologist Tim O'Brien.
Tim O'Brien
Tom Crann
Friday, March 9, 2007, 7:30pm
(pre-concert discussion at 6:30pm)
Cathedral of Christ the King
1410 Baxter Avenue, Superior, Wisconsin ($20 & $12, general seating)
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Tickets
Saturday, March 10, 2007, 8:00pm
(pre-concert discussion at 7:00pm)
The Basilica of Saint Mary
88 North 17th Street, Minneapolis ($15, $23 & $33, reserved seating)
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Tickets
Sunday, March 11, 2007, 7:00pm
(pre-concert discussion at 6:00pm)
Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, Saint Mary Chapel
2260 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul ($15, $23 & $33, reserved seating)
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Tickets
Friday, March 16, 2007, 7:30pm
(no pre-concert discussion)
St. Rose Convent Maria Angelorum Chapel
901 Franciscan Way, LaCrosse, Wisconsin ($20 & $12, general seating)
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Tickets
Interested in singing Renaissance choral music?
Join the entire Rose Ensemble for our annual sing-a-long. All experience levels welcome!
Tuesday, March 6, 2007, 7:00-9:00pm
Rondo Community Outreach Library
461 N. Dale St.
Saint Paul, MN
(Sponsored by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library)

Courtly Pleasures in Baroque Stockholm and Rome: Music for Christina Wasa, Queen of Sweden
with author Patricia Hampl as narrator
During the mid-17th century, Queen Christina of Sweden presided over a magnificent court in Stockholm to which she was able to attract some of the foremost European musicians and artists. Later in her life Christina converted to Catholicism, provoking a great scandal in Lutheran Sweden and forcing her to renounce her throne. Christina eventually settled in Rome, where she assembled an equally magnificent entourage, patronizing many of the leading Italian artists and musicians of the day. This fascinating program highlights the incredible life of Christina (1626-1689) and her struggles with religion, politics, war, love and even astronomy. Features a new work by Minnesota composer J. David Moore.
J. David Moore
Patricia Hampl
Thanks to...the American Swedish Institute
Friday, May 4, 2007, 8:00pm
(pre-concert discussion at 7:00pm)
Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, Saint Mary Chapel
2260 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul ($15, $23 & $33, reserved seating)
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Tickets
Saturday, May 5, 2007, 8:00pm
(pre-concert discussion at 7:00pm)
The Basilica of Saint Mary
88 North 17th Street, Minneapolis ($15, $23 & $33, reserved seating)
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Tickets
Sunday, May 6, 2007, 7:00pm
(no pre-concert discussion)
Chisago Lake Lutheran Church
1 Summit Avenue, Center City, Minnesota ($20 & $12, general seating)
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Tickets
Friday, May 11, 2007, 7:30pm
(pre-concert discussion at 6:30pm)
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
219 North 6th Avenue East, Duluth ($20 & $12, general seating)
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Tickets
Saturday, May 12, 2007, 7:30pm
(pre-concert discussion at 6:30pm)
First Lutheran Church
1114 West Traverse Road, Saint Peter, Minnesota ($20 & $12, general seating)
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Tickets
*SPECIAL MOTHERS DAY CONCERT*
Sunday, May 13, 2007, 3:00pm
(pre-concert discussion at 2:00pm)
Trinity Lutheran Church
115 N 4th Street (at Myrtle), Stillwater ($25 & $15, general seating)
Purchase
Tickets
Want to learn more about the content of this program?
Join Jordan Sramek and members of The Rose Ensemble for a free workshop and discussion focusing on the life and music of Queen Christina.
(No previous experience or knowledge necessary.)Tuesday, May 1, 2007, 7:00-9:00pm
Saint Anthony Park Branch Library
2245 Como Ave.
Saint Paul, MN
(Sponsored by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library)
2006-2007 Gregorian Vespers Series
In accord with its mission statement, "to contribute to the cultural life of this community" and following in the footsteps of the great cathedral churches of past and present, the Basilica of Saint Mary was proud to enter into an agreement with the Rose Ensemble in June of 1997, thus establishing its first residency program.
The Rose Ensemble performs in the Basilica at several events throughout the year, including concerts, liturgies, and our continuing Gregorian Vespers series.
We invite you to join us for special Vespers services, featuring members of The Rose Ensemble singing seasonal Gregorian chants. Service time is approximately 45 minutes and there is no obligation to participate. Whether attending just to listen, taking time out of a busy day to relax, or to sing along, all are welcome!
Sunday, September 24, 2006, 3:00pm
Sunday, October 29, 2006, 3:00pm
Sunday, November 26, 2006, 3:00pm (Feast of Christ the King)
Sunday, January 28, 2007, 3:00pm
Sunday, April 1, 2007, 3:00pm (Palm Sunday)
Sunday, April 22, 2007, 3:00pm
2006-07 free public workshops sponsored by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.
The Rose Ensemble is supported, in part, by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Target Foundation.
Official sponsors of The Rose Ensemble 2006-2007 Performance Season:
- Blue Moon Coffee Cafe
- Faribault Woolen Mills
- Noiseland
- Wallace Carlson Printing
- Wine Thief







