Mendelssohn Club Presents Anthracite Fields by Julia Wolfe

Retrace mining lore back to the anthracite fields of central Pennsylvania through this new, folk-classical hybrid choral work by composer Julia Wolfe, runner-up for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in music. Mendelssohn Club joins forces with the Bang on a Can All-Stars on this world premiere inspired by Anglo-American folk music and Wolfe's research on coal mining communities in Pennsylvania. Wolfe and the Mendelssohn Club will use the architecture of the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral's sanctuary space as a dramatic backdrop.

The 140-voice Mendelssohn Club is known for its professional productions of choral/orchestral programs, as well as performances in guest engagements with prominent area orchestras. Dedicated to the ongoing vitality of the choral art, Mendelssohn Club has made a significant commitment to the commissioning of new choral music, having commissioned and premiered 55 new works since 1990.

Drawing inspiration from folk, classical, and rock genres, Julia Wolfe, a co-founder of New York's Bang on a Can, brings a modern sensibility to each while simultaneously tearing down the walls between them. Her music is distinguished by an intense physicality and a relentless power that pushes performers to extremes and demands attention from the audience.

The Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral is located at 3-19 South 38th Street between Chestnut and Market Streets in Philadelphia.