Take a musical trip to Old Vienna, and in your mind’s eye, sit in historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral for a candlelit Vespers service.  This is exactly what Artists’  Vocal Ensemble (AVE) will bring to life on the second weekend of October.  With the music of Vienna’s four favorite sons, Mozart and Haydn, Mendelssohn and Schubert, we are transported to the Classical world of the early nineteenth century when Vienna and its sacred and secular musical life were at their prime.  Under the direction and keyboard accompaniment of Jonathan Dimmock, the AVE singers will transport you to a golden age of melody, with unsurpassed part-songs of Haydn, geistliche Lieder of Mendelssohn, Schubert’s astounding “Song of Miriam,” and his sublime final Marian antiphon, “Salve Regina.” 

As usual AVE pairs its programs with charity and social action organizations; and this concert is no exception.  With the country focused on health care, we will share our East Bay concerts with two nonprofits, both housed at Oakland’s new, magnificent cathedral: Christ the Light.  The first of these, The Order of Malta’s Medical Clinic, offers free medical services for uninsured children and adults; the second is the Legal Justice Center which offers free access to justice through preventive education, community advocacy, and the operation of a free legal clinic.  Materials about both of these groups will be available at the Friday and Saturday concerts. 

AVE is proud to be the first ensemble to perform in the new Walt Disney Family Museum which opens on October 1 of this year.  The exhibition space is immediately adjacent to the new museum building itself and boasts brilliant acoustics, spaciousness, and a new Steinway grand piano.  This will be the inaugural concert for the space.