Portland Ovations brings Phil Kline's John the Revelator to Merrill Auditorium

Portland Ovations in collaboration with Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ and LARK Society for Chamber Music is proud to present contemporary composer Phil Kline's John the Revelator at Merrill Auditorium on Sunday, May 15th at 3 p.m.

Phil Kline's John the Revelator is a gorgeous and powerful Mass for the 21st century and is considered one of the most significant works of the past decade. John the Revelator finds inspiration in the writings of Samuel Beckett and poet David Shapiro, early American hymns, shape-note singing and the events of 9/11. This performance features the magnificent vocal sextet Lionheart, who have been acclaimed by The New York Times for their "smoothly blended and impeccably balanced sound." Lionheart is joined by municipal organist Ray Cornils and the Portland String Quartet for this very unique presentation with local connections. The concert performance will include a new work for organ by Kline, commissioned in part by Portland Ovations and Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ.

"Between the featuring of Maine-based artists, the Maine premiere of a new co-commission and the many important partnerships that make this presentation possible, we believe this truly unique performance will resonate deeply with our community," states Aimée M. Petrin, Executive Director of Portland Ovations.

Phil Kline was raised in Akron, Ohio by parents that were devout Pennsylvania Dutch Lutherans and went on to graduate from Columbia University with a degree in English Literature before embarking on his musical career and becoming a well known figure on the downtown New York rock scene, founding the band the Del-Byzanteens with filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and painter James Nares. Since then, Kline has composed and created vast boombox symphonies, chamber music and song cycles which have all been hailed for originality, beauty and subversive subtext, and wit.

Ovations Offstage in collaboration with Portland Music Foundation is offering a discussion on Composers and Commissions with composer Phil Kline and USM professor and composer-in-residence Daniel Sonenberg on Saturday, May 14th at 5 p.m., location To Be Determined; please call Portland Ovations at 207-773-3150 for more information. Also offered by Ovations Offstage is a Pre-Performance Lecture: "Sacred Story, Re-imagined through Musical Collaboration" with professor Sonenberg talking with composer Phil Kline about his masterwork John the Revelator on Sunday, May 15th at 1:30 p.m. in the Green Room at Merrill Auditorium.

Portland Ovations' presentation of Phil Kline's John the Revelator is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and Maine Arts Commission.

Tickets for John the Revelator are available at $38 to the general public and $34 for Ovations' Members. A limited number of $10 student tickets are also available to any full-time student. To purchase tickets, contact PortTix at 207-842-0800 or visit the box office window at Merrill Auditorium. Tickets are also available online at www.portlandovations.org.