Great Expectations

Assessing Austin's Class of '96

"...Hollywood Records. Others, such as Spoon and the out-of-left-field Craig Ross, remain on good terms with their labels despite..."

Dec. 27, 1996 Music Feature by Andy Langer

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

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

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

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

Tom Petty, Charli XCX, and Demi Lovato Headline SXSW Film 2021 List

Festival drops complete lineup, with 2020 titles getting their shot

"...precedents for the time. Cast List: Lorenza Izzo, Bryan Craig, Chrissie Fit, Simu Liu, Steven Bauer, Liza Weil, Cranston..."

Feb. 10, 2021 SXSW Post by Richard Whittaker

'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

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

The Buttons and Bows Show: Hilah's Dollhouse

The strength of The Buttons and Bows Show is Buttons and Bows, beautiful souls whose innocence is charming and heartbreaking

"...crafted songs, Elizabeth Doss' appropriate direction, Chase Staggs and Craig Matthew Staggs' delightful production design, and Hilah Johnson's hilarious..."

July 13, 2007 Arts Review by Hannah Kenah

The New Evolution

Is technology providing the ladder to the next stage of human consciousness?

"...an anecdotal condition. University of Texas associate professor S. Craig Watkins, for one, told me that obsessive Internet use,..."

March 4, 2011 Screens Feature by Josh Rosenblatt

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

Naked City

Headlines and happenings from Austin and beyond

"...group is circulating a complaint against U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Plano, charging he instigated an IRS audit of Texans..."

March 3, 2006 News Feature

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

When the Bough Breaks

In 1993, the Hyde Park Baptist Child Development Center hired a teacher who proved to be a little 'rough' with the children. Now the church is being sued for ignoring alleged child abuse.

"...recently about the allegations in the lawsuit, HPBC attorney Craig Nevelow said, "We believe evidence supports our claim that..."

Nov. 17, 2006 News Feature by Emily Pyle

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

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

Cumulative Staff Box

"...Council Watch: Alex de Marban, Kayte VanScoy, Jenny Staff/Johnson..."

Sept. 7, 2001 Features Feature by Nick Barbaro

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

SXSW Film Releases Full Feature Lineup

Slate includes everyone from Wes Anderson to the Zellners

"...James Hand, Robyn Rikoon, Sonny Carl Davis, Jeffery Da'Shade Johnson (World Premiere)..."

Jan. 30, 2014 Screens Post by Monica Riese

Sxsw

"...-- his Atlantic debut, due this summer. And while Craig Ross and Malcom Burn have been putting the finishing..."

March 14, 1997 Music Feature

South by Southwest Falls for Ryan Gosling With The Fall Guy World Premiere

3 Body Problem, more announced for 2024 festival

"...missing. Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Stephanie Hsu. (World Premiere)..."

Jan. 10, 2024 SXSW Post by Richard Whittaker

Friggin' Genius

SXSW Film announces feature film lineup

"...as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. Cast: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloë Grace Moretz and Nicolas..."

Feb. 4, 2010 Screens Post by Kimberley Jones

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

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