The Utah Chamber Artists choir and their director, Barlow Bradford, have been invited to Israel next December to perform with the Israel Chamber Orchestra.
Six concerts will be presented with the ICO in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, the Jerusalem concerts as part of that city's 3,000th anniversary celebrations. The group will leave Dec. 26 and return Jan. 7.Bradford is scheduled to lead the choir and orchestra in the John Rutter Requiem - thought to be its first performances in Israel - and the orchestra in Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony. He and the choir will also present two concerts on their own.
Founded 30 years ago by Gary Bertini as the Chamber Ensemble, the Israel Chamber Orchestra has as its principal guest conductor Phillipe Entremont. According to Utah Chamber Artists officers, the invitation to tour with the ICO came after Abe Cohen of AC Artists in Tel Aviv saw a KBYU-TV video of the group's concert in the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
The Utah Chamber Artists recently recorded their first CD - a Christmas disc including J.A.C. Reford's "Welcome All Wonders," premiered by them in 1993 - and is currently preparing their fifth season.
Currently planned is a concert next February with pianist Grant Johannesen and the premiere of Robert Cundick's "To Utah," written in honor of the state's centennial celebration.
Israel tour packages are also available to members of the public who wish to accompany the group, starting at $2,595.
For information call 255-2233.