To more accurately reflect its evolution, scale, and importance, the Knoxville performance entity previously known as the Amadeus Chamber Ensemble has undergone a name change to become the Amadeus Concert Ensemble. Its thoughtfully presented composer-themed concerts employing notable soloists appearing with orchestra and chorus will continue as before, filling an important niche in Knoxville’s classical music scene. As before, the free performances of important works from music history are a part of the Cathedral Concert Series at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Northshore Drive.
ACE maestro Brian Salesky has revealed the ensemble’s 2024-25 season of three concerts taking place in September 2024 and February and March of 2025. Kicking off the season on Sunday, September 29, will be “Dvořák Sacred Works,” including the Czech composer’s complete Te Deum and selections from his Stabat Mater. Making their ACE debuts will be soprano Maria Natale and tenor John Overholt. Returning soloists will be alto Diana Salesky and bass Stephen Morscheck. Conducting the ACE orchestra and chorus will be Maestro Howard Skinner.
“The Lighter Side of Beethoven” is the theme for the February 16 concert, a selection of rarely heard Beethoven works, including material from the composer’s cantatas, concert scenes, his Ritterballet, and his unfinished opera Vestas Feuer, as well as some other musical surprises. Soprano Mary-Hollis Hundley and bass-baritone Nathan Stark will make their ACE and Knoxville debuts. Knoxville artists soprano Jacqueline Brecheen and tenor John Overholt fill out the quartet of soloists. Maestro Brian Salesky returns to the ACE podium to conduct this unique program which includes the participation of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Choir in their second collaboration with ACE.
The ACE season wraps on March 9, 2025, with “The Golden Age Of Strauss,” a journey into the works of four composers who share the legendary musical name. Richard Strauss will be represented by selections from Ariadne auf Naxos and Der Rosenkavalier including the “Presentation of the Rose” and ethereal Final Scene. Oscar’s contribution will be the romantic “My Hero” from The Chocolate Soldier. A tribute to “The Waltz King” Johann Jr. includes his “Voices of Spring” and highlights from Die Fledermaus. Johann Sr. will be represented by the Radetsky March. Maestro Salesky has indicated that to honor the tradition of this work’s performance at the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Day concerts, the audience will be invited to clap along with the music. In their ACE and Knoxville debuts will be soprano Ashley Fabian and mezzosoprano Anna Kelly. They will be joined by soprano Maria Brea who previously performed in ACE’s Mozart Operatic Feast and Fiesta Española.
The ACE concerts, like all of Cathedral Concert Series, are free with registration on the Cathedral’s website: https://www.shcathedral.org/cathedral-concert-series/
