Tomorrow, the World

Craig Hella Johnson's company of voices has long been world-class; now the world is hearing it

"...No one is very likely to mistake Craig Hella Johnson for a mad scientist. The founder of..."

June 20, 2008 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

At Last, a Grammy for Conspirare

CD of Russian music earns Austin choral ensemble its first win

"...decade, they've been the Grammy-nominated choral ensemble Conspirare. Now, Craig Hella Johnson's company of voices can finally change that..."

Feb. 10, 2015 Arts Post by Robert Faires

What You See Is What You Hear

The joy that Conspirare takes in singing is visible in the choir's PBS special

"...you. The members of this choir and its leader, Craig Hella Johnson, are vocal alchemists who can transmute any..."

Feb. 27, 2009 Arts Post by Robert Faires

comPassion

In its latest festival, Conspirare finds passions thriving in 21st century music

"...I), and reflections on recent events (Conspirare Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson will offer a performance of his passion-in-progress,..."

June 6, 2014 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Gifts of the Magi

A conversation about community and creativity with three wise men of the Austin arts

"...Steakley works in theatre, Stephen Mills in dance, and Craig Hella Johnson in music, you might not think that..."

Dec. 4, 2009 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

I Dream a World

A program designed for Conspirare to flex its muscles and show off its versatility, which it did with great success

"...that wasn't classic Conspirare. Over its 15-year history, director Craig Hella Johnson has shaped the ensemble into one of..."

Feb. 8, 2008 Arts Review by Michael Kellerman

Conspirare

Austin's top vocal ensemble earns two Grammy noms for its Threshold of Night CD

"...cheers for Conspirare! The astounding vocal ensemble led by Craig Hella Johnson is now two for two for two..."

Dec. 12, 2008 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Carmina Burana: Hi, Latin!

The New Texas Music Works rendition of Carl Orff's masterwork Carmina Burana was the usual exhilarating sonic roller-coaster of songs about love and lust and way too much drinking in the Middle Ages, but the exuberance of conductor Craig Hella Johnson also made it feel like a good new friend was introducing us to one of his favorite old friends.

"...have this rendition of Carl Orff's masterwork conducted by Craig Hella Johnson, artistic director of the New Texas Music..."

June 9, 2000 Arts Review by Wayne Alan Brenner

Lasting Commitments

The 2008 class of the Austin Arts Hall of Fame

"...has his name in more programs than Samuel French." Craig Hella Johnson..."

May 23, 2008 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Portrait of Conspirare

Local chorus Conspirare, headed to New York City for the American Choral Directors Association convention, previewed the trip with a local concert of what amounted to two programs: a collection spanning Renaissance to modern works and a mostly modern collection of songs ranging from the flowing to the formal, the basic to the brash.

"...poplike collage of dance-themed songs -- as Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson explained, no matter how it tries, the..."

Feb. 7, 2003 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Finding Light in Shadow

Conspirare sings of deep hope in the midst of great suffering

"...movements of Gustav Mahler's Second Symphony, which Conspirare director Craig Hella Johnson calls "some of the most hopeful music..."

June 17, 2005 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

They Hear America Singing!

Grammy-nominated Conspirare brings together 600 voices in search of our national sound

"...mean by 'Crossing the Divide'?" asks Conspirare artistic director Craig Hella Johnson. "We're talking about a divide between performer..."

Jan. 26, 2007 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Orchestrating Partnerships

Maestro Peter Bay likes to play with others – especially when they're outside the orchestra

"...ends of his comfort spectrum. The first is with Craig Hella Johnson, fellow conductor and artistic director of the..."

May 4, 2012 Arts Feature by Adam Roberts

'Renaissance & Response: Polyphony Then and Now'

The Austin chorus sings the praises of four classical composers – with new music

"...finest chorus in the country and its artistic director, Craig Hella Johnson, "a genius ... [who] is moving the..."

Jan. 21, 2011 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Evocations: The Music of Hugo Distler, Opus 12

With its presentation of sacred choral works by early 20th-century German composer Hugo Distler, the Conspirare Choir put its versatility on best display and provided a sequence of absolutely divine sounds.

"...of the Conspirare Choir was best on display. Conductor Craig Hella Johnson has assembled a mighty group of singers..."

June 14, 2002 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Midsummer Night's Renaissance

Conspirare's midsummer concert of choral works from the Renaissance provided yet another example of enchanting song by this local treasure

"...performances make it a local institution to treasure. Director Craig Hella Johnson has honed his artists into a delightful,..."

July 2, 2004 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Monteverdi: Vocal Glory, Vocal Splendor

A program of songs sacred, secular, and straddling those two realms, all by Italian Renaissance composer Claudio Monteverdi, provided Conspirare with another opportunity to provide that which it does so well: powerful, ethereal song that seems to come directly from the distant, historical source yet has all the immediacy of new work.

"...of the chorus' 10th year. Under the leadership of Craig Hella Johnson, Conspirare offered a program of that which..."

June 6, 2003 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Star Turns

The nominees for the 2015-16 Austin Critics Table Awards

"...Vincent J. Hooper, Hairspray Jessica Hughes, The Quarry Aaron Johnson, Skylight/Tribes Iris McQuillan-Grace, Tribes Michael Miller, Disgraced Amy Nichols,..."

May 9, 2016 Arts Post by Robert Faires

Culture Flash!

Stephen Mills in Montreal, Conspirare in the studio, the Blanton's first Impressionist painting, and party for the Texas Biennial

"...to the region (old stomping grounds for Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson from his days directing the professional choir..."

Aug. 6, 2004 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Bach: B Minor Mass

The Conspirare choir can do anything, from communicating a work's sonorous beauty to delivering well-placed, carefully planned emotional punches, and they did both in their recent performance of the Bach B Minor Mass.

"...As with director Craig Hella Johnson's 1997 interpretation, the very slow tempo and..."

Oct. 10, 2003 Arts Review by Jerry Young

A Work That Houses Us All

Bach's Mass in B Minor is the center around which Conspirare orbits, and next week the choir will be performing the work for the third time since it was founded in 1991. "It feels like a return to our foundation and our roots," says director Craig Hella Johnson.

"...return to our foundation and our roots," says director Craig Hella Johnson. "It was the first thing we did..."

Sept. 19, 2003 Arts Feature by Jerry Young

The Sopranos

New Texas Music Works closed the 2002 New Texas Festival with some tremendously talented ladies -- sopranos from the Conspirare Choir -- singing a variety of material, but for all its warmth, the concert lacked the sustained intensity and interest that is the hallmark of the choir's best work.

"...about herself, give effusive thanks to NTMW Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson, laud her fellow sopranos, and then sing..."

June 14, 2002 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Conspirare's Quarantine Madrigals Creates a Choir of One

This new song cycle gives isolated singers music to build a choir with – a choir of just themselves

"...As this was happening, Conspirare Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson was keeping his ear on the project...."

March 12, 2021 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Conspirare's Hope of Loving

This concert of works by Jake Runestad conveyed a sense of love as a force that soothes, enlightens, and heals

"...to music by contemporary composer Jake Runestad, Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson had his Grammy-winning choral ensemble gift us..."

Jan. 25, 2019 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Rachmaninov Vespers

Conspirare gave a balanced, brilliant performance of this jewel of sacred choral music

"...special. With a seminal year behind him, Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson brought his company of singers back to..."

March 6, 2009 Arts Review by Michael Kellerman

Conspirare

Tarik O'Regan writes just the kind of lush choral music Conspirare loves to sing

"...in harmony – with that of Conspirare Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson. O'Regan seems to write just the kind..."

Sept. 28, 2007 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Conspirare: My favorite year

In a banner year, Conspirare signs with the prestigious Harmonia Mundi label and plans a powerful Long Center debut with the Verdi Requiem

"...just keep getting better – and busier – for Craig Hella Johnson's vocal ensemble. For starters, Conspirare is set..."

Aug. 31, 2007 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Carmina Burana/Hymn to the Earth

For its first concert of the 2002-03 season, Conspirare offered a striking premiere of Hymn to the Earth, by local composer Donald Grantham, then conductor Craig Hella Johnson led a gregarious and eager mob in a sing-along version of Carl Orff's popular Carmina Burana.

"...with the familiar themes. So far as Conspirare's conductor Craig Hella Johnson can figure, till now there has never..."

Oct. 11, 2002 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Palestrina and Pärt

The penultimate night of the 2001 New Texas Festival saw a reduced Conspirare Choir of 12 singers under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson compare and contrast selections by 16th-century composer Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina and 20th-century composer Arvo Pärt in an evening that displayed just how exquisite Johnson's choir is.

"...Conspirare Choir of 12 singers under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson give voice in what might be described..."

June 8, 2001 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Conspirare's Christmas at the Carillon with Ruthie Foster

The season's most glorious sounds – performed beyond the Carillon.

"...probably, because it's the choral organization led by conductor Craig Hella Johnson – so often described as "the boyish..."

Dec. 5, 2014 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

1   2   3   4     NEXT ›    4 »