L.A. Chorale to premiere part of opera

Departing from their usual choral repertory, conductor Grant Gershon and the Los Angeles Master Chorale will premiere part of a commissioned opera during the group’s 2005-06 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Announcing the season Wednesday at Disney Hall, Gershon said the chorale would sing an unstaged suite from Don Davis’ first opera, “Rio de Sangre” (“River of Blood”), on Nov. 6. Set to a libretto by Los Angeles poet-novelist Kate Gale, the chorale-commissioned opera by the composer of the “Matrix” films deals with oppression in a fictional Latin American country. No date has been set for the stage premiere. The program will conclude with Faure’s Requiem. Other highlights of the 11-program season include an organ-choral concert with organist Ken Cowan (Jan. 22), Verdi’s Requiem (March 12 and 14) and a Minimalist program with works by Meredith Monk, Arvo Part and Michael Torke (March 26).

Gershon also said the chorale will record Steve Reich’s “You Are (Variations)” -- which it co-commissioned and premiered at Disney Hall in 2004 -- for Nonesuch Records. The disc is to be released next fall.

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-- Chris Pasles