Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus win big at 63rd GRAMMY Awards
BPO and BPC join composer Richard Danielpour and UCLA Chamber Singers in win for ‘The Passion of Yeshua’
BUFFALO, NY—The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus are the proud recipients of a GRAMMY Award in the category of “Best Choral Performance” for their recording of Richard Danielpour’s ‘The Passion of Yeshua.’ The recording features the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta; the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, prepared by Adam Luebke; and the UCLA Chamber Singers, prepared by James K. Bass.
‘The Passion of Yeshua’ is a dramatic oratorio written by contemporary composer Richard Danielpour, a schoolmate and longtime friend of Falletta’s. It is the personal telling of the final hours of Christ on Earth. The piece incorporates Christ’s Jewish faith in Hebrew passages, and also includes the seldom-heard voices of Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of God for the first time in a work of this form. The recording features Hila Plitmann, soprano; J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano; Timothy Fallon, tenor; and baritones Matthew Worth, Kenneth Overton, and James K. Bass.
“The musicians, singers, Richard and I are truly humbled and honored by this award,” commented Falletta. “’The Passion of Yeshua’ was an incredible project that brought together hundreds of musicians and voices in a simply unforgettable performance. We thank the Recording Academy for this prestigious honor, and all the other remarkable nominees for their outstanding work.”
The BPO, under the direction of Falletta, last won a GRAMMY Award in 2008 for “Best Contemporary Composition” for its recording of John Corigliano’s ‘Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan.’ Falletta most recently took home a GRAMMY in 2019 for “Best Classical Compendium” for the recording of ‘Fuchs: Piano Concerto ‘Spiritualist’; Poems Of Life; Glacier; Rush,’ which she recorded with the London Symphony.
The BPO and BPC’s recording of Richard Danielpour’s ‘The Passion of Yeshua’ is available for purchase at bpo.org or by calling the Box Office at (716) 885-5000.
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ABOUT BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc. provides a resident, professional, major symphony orchestra of artistic excellence and integrity to enrich the quality of life in Western New York through the presentation of live symphonic music and other musical events that educate and entertain the broadest possible audiences within and beyond the Western New York region. Since its founding in 1935, the BPO has served as Buffalo’s cultural ambassador. JoAnn Falletta is the Music Director of the Grammy® Award-winning orchestra, which presents more than 120 Classics, Pops, Rock, Kids and Youth concerts each year for over 200,000 people. For more information, visit bpo.org.
ABOUT BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC CHORUS
The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the Western New York region through the performance of high-quality, diverse musical programs and developing singers in the choral arts. With a roster of over 140 singers, the BPC is frequently heard as the principal guest chorus of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. For more information, visit bpchorus.org.