Handel: Theodora (Amor Artis, Johannes Somary)

"Johannes Somary, the founder and music director of Amor Artis, a chorus and orchestra that for the last half-century has presented neglected choral masterpieces, primarily from the Baroque and Classical periods, died on Feb. 1 in the Bronx. ... Mr. Somary, an organist, composer and conductor, formed Amor Artis in response to the disbanding of the American Concert Choir, a chorus and orchestra created by the conductor Margaret Hillis. As an experiment, he and the group’s manager, Milton Goldin, staged the first complete performance in the United States of the Handel oratorio 'Esther' at Town Hall in April 1961. A rousing reception encouraged Mr. Somary (pronounced so-MAHR-ee) to form Amor Artis. ... In the 1970’s, the Amor Artis Chorale made the first recordings of the Handel oratorios 'Theodora' and 'Jeptha' with the English Chamber Orchestra" (William Grimes, "Johannes Somary, Conductor of Neglected Works, Dies at 75," New York Times, 2/8/11).
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