Seraphic Saturday Podcast

On the occasion of the ensemble's 20th anniversary season, Artistic Director Patrick Dupre Quigley takes listeners on a stroll down memory lane. Enjoy never-before-released archival recordings and hear Quigley's recollections on standout concerts of the past 20 years.

The show begins with excerpts from a 2008 performance of Handel's Israel in Egypt followed by a selection from Seraphic Fire's 2011 collaboration with Jewish cantor George Mordecai. Later on, you'll hear a medley of spirituals featuring countertenor Reginald Mobley from the 2008 concert When the Saints Go Marching In – an imagined jazz funeral for Quigley's native city of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The podcast closes with a lively encore from the 2007 program SWAY!

Welcome to the Seraphic Saturday Podcast! On this episode, we revisit our episode on Handel’s “Messiah” with features from Conductor Nic McGegan and Seraphic Fire singers. Enjoy insights about the history of oratorio, favorite moments from our artists, and special recordings of this great work.

Welcome to the Seraphic Saturday Podcast Companion. In this episode, Dr. James K. Bass leads us through the recent history of professional American choral ensembles with the help of Bass Eric Alatorre, and conductor Craig Hella Johnson. With Eric’s decades-long tenure at Chanticleer, he takes us through the ensemble’s beginnings to its award winning present, while Craig reminisces about Conspirare’s impressive path forging the way for professional choral ensembles throughout the country.

Welcome to the Seraphic Saturday Podcast Companion. This episode, we will be discussing performing Baroque vocal and instrumental music in anticipation of our second Enlightenment Festival. First, Patrick Quigley interviews the imitable soprano Dame Emma Kirkby, with well over 100 recordings spanning from chant, to madrigals, and most especially the music of the Renaissance and Baroque. Later in the show, soprano Nola Richardson talks to trumpeter Josh Cohen about the unique qualities of the Baroque trumpet. Both of these artists will be performing Bach in our Enlightenment Festival in February 2022.

Our second episode this season will delve into the tradition of choral music in America with our host Dr. James K Bass. Dr. Bass takes us through the years of tradition with music of the Shakers, Fisk Jubilee Singers, and Robert Shaw.

Welcome to the Seraphic Saturday Podcast. Our twelfth episode is a compendium of information about Hiledgard von Bingen to accompany the release of Seraphic Fire's newest recording Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo virtutum. In this podcast, Patrick is joined by Dr. Honey Meconi, noted Hildegard scholar and artistic advisor, to discuss Hildegard's life and work. We also hear from several of the recording artists of this disc, as they discuss the challenges and joys of the music and the recording process.

You can purchase Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo virtutum by visiting SeraphicFire.org/Recordings or calling our Box Office at 305.285.9060. Tickets also are available to see this historical masterpiece come to life onstage in January 2022 with the women of Seraphic Fire, led by internationally lauded opera and Broadway stage director, Francesca Zambello. Visit SeraphicFire.org for more information.

Welcome to the Seraphic Saturday Podcast Companion. Our eleventh episode is a deep dive interview with our host, Patrick Dupré Quigley, and one of our original Seraphic Fire members, Alvaro Bermudez. Though no longer singing with the group, Alvaro is an integral member as a composer and guitarist. Seraphic Fire will be premiering Alvaro’s newly commissioned “Danzas del Silencio” this May, sponsored by the Knight Foundation. Listen along as Patrick and Al recount his history with Seraphic, the Colombian musical style, and his composed pieces written specifically for Seraphic Fire.

Our eighth episode features Artistic Director Patrick Dupré Quigley leading us on a listening tour of two important American works: Samuel Barber’s Hermit Songs, and Steve Reich’s The Desert Music. Where we learn more about Barber's life and relationship with soprano Leontyne Price and Reich's minimalist approach to our theme "In Pursuit of Peace."

Our seventh episode features Associate Conductor James K. Bass as he leads our listeners through a few of his favorite Seraphic Fire Christmas pieces. It features well-loved favorites from our Grammy nominated CD, A Seraphic Fire Christmas, and a few pieces from our archives of live performances. Visit our website for more information on our CDs and how to buy your ticket for this year's "Home for the Holidays" performance. 

Welcome to the Seraphic Saturday Podcast. Our sixth episode goes behind the scenes of the making of Seraphic Fire’s Season S with guest host Rhett M. Del Campo featuring interviews with Sarah Moyer and John Buffett. Artistic Director Patrick Quigley will also drop by to discuss the process of making Season S and premiere a piece from our November concert, "Still.Here."

Our fifth episode explores historical music and the joys and challenges of its contemporary interpretations. Host Patrick Quigley welcomes conductor Nicholas McGegan, cellist Guy Fishman, and violinist Edson Scheid de Andrade to discuss their careers based in historical performance. Visit our website www.seraphicfire.org/blog to find the albums discussed on this podcast.

This month we introduce our new game show segment called Seraphic Inquire! Hosted by Jeopardy champ and alto extraordinaire, Doug Dodson with longtime Seraphic members, Brenna Wells and Steve Bradshaw. Doug tests them on their knowledge of Handel and his masterpiece Messiah.

Our third episode explores contemporary American music, with the goal of demystifying this genre for our audiences. Soprano Rebecca Myers and tenor Steven Bradshaw, members of Seraphic Fire as well as Variant 6, a contemporary American vocal ensemble, and The Crossing, a GRAMMY-winning chorus, join host Patrick Dupré Quigley to talk about contemporary vocal music. And then Mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski returns to discuss her new album "Haunted Blue."

Welcome to the Seraphic Saturday Podcast. Our second episode talks all things Messiah, from its first premiere in Dublin, to Messiah’s arrival in America. Host Patrick Quigley is joined by conductor Nicholas McGegan to discuss the work, along with tenor Brad Diamond who speaks on the Baroque era. Also featured in this episode: cellist Guy Fishman, mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski, soprano Nola Richardson, and countertenor Reggie Mobley.