After Jay Leno playfully spoofed Chanticleer on his monologue last week, the members of the group decided to even. Immediately following their sold-out Stanford Lively Arts concert on December 10, they taped a hilarious video message for Leno right in the cozy confines of Memorial Church’s Round Room. Read more about the story here, here, and here.

—Posted by Robert Cable, Public Relations Manager

Tonight, Wednesday, December 16, hear a preview of Steve Reich’s Mallet Quartet as part of WXQR’s Maximum Reich Festival.

Mallet Quartet, which was co-commissioned by Stanford Lively Arts, receives its U.S. premiere at Dinkelspiel Auditorium on January 9 with So Percussion. Maximum Reich includes a comprehensive presentation of his recorded works, exclusive downloads, video interviews, and concerts.

Posted by Robert Cable, Public Relations Manager

With all due respect to eighty-foot spruce trees bedecked with thousands of bulbs, one of the most moving experiences of holiday lights to be found anywhere measures exactly twelve candlepower: the sight of the members of Chanticleer entering and progressing up the center aisle of a darkened Memorial Church, each with a lone taper in hand, as each lends his vocal gifts to the sound famously known as “an orchestra of voices.”

This was the scene last night, as Chanticleer began their annual holiday program for a capacity audience at Memorial Church. At intermission, I caught up with Chanticleer’s longest-serving member, bass Eric Alatorre, for a brief video interview.

Have a favorite memory from last night’s performance, or from Chanticleer programs of years past? Please share it below. We’ll make sure the singers receive your comments.

Happy holidays from all of us at Lively Arts!

—Posted by Matthew Campbell, Director of External Relations

NPR’s From the Top celebrated its 10th anniversary this past weekend with a live taping at Dinkelspiel Auditorium. It was a packed house for pianist/host Christopher O’Riley who was joined by several local young musicians. Performers included 13-year-old violinist Stephen Waarts from Los Altos (2009 winner of KDFC’s Star Search Competition); 16-year-old cellist Nathan Chan from Hillsborough (featured on the 2006 HBO documentary The Music in Me); 16-year-old pianist Jade Huang from Granite Bay and the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Benjamin Simon.

Stay tuned for the program to air locally on KDFC during the week of March 1, 2010. In the meantime, here’s a preview on From the Top’s blog as well as audio streaming from their 2006 Stanford taping.
—Posted by Robert Cable, Public Relations Manager