In 1990, the Seattle men's Chorus released its first ever recording Over the Rainbow! A limited-run release, all of the copies of that original recording were sold out within a few years. Now, by popular demand, we have gone back to the original master to bring you Over the Rainbow! 2000, which includes a new recording of the stunning antiphonal performance of Biebl's Ave Maria as sung in the 1998 Holiday concert at Benaroya Hall. The much-loved ballad, Old Friend, as sung in the March, 1999 Tunes for Tales concert with Armistead Maupin,
is included as an additional bonus.

The Seattle Men's Chorus, founded in 1979, was the third gay men's chorus in what is now an international network of gay and lesbian choruses. With more than 25,000 attending its mainstage performances each season, SMC is recognized internationally as an innovator in choral performance and is proud to have been named as an anchor tenant in the new, state-of-the-art Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle, Washington. An active recording program has yielded nine recordings including Soul Full, a program of American gospel, and
Bustin' Out All Over, a salute to the musical genius of Rodgers & Hammerstein.

The ensemble has been featured in two PBS (Public Broadcasting System) television specials including 1993's Swellegant Elegance: The Music of Cole Porter with Harvey Fierstein and Diane Schuur. An active commissioning program has led to many new works for men's chorus including 1994's one-act opera Night Passage by the Houston Grand Opera team of Robert Moran and James Skofield.

American tours have included performances in some of the nation's most prestigious halls including Carnegie Hall in New York City, Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas and Symphony Hall in Boston. The Seattle Men's Chorus is the proud recipient of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Seattle Arts Commission, King County Arts Commission, Washington State Arts Commission, PONCHO, Corporate Council for the Arts and corporate sponsorships from American Airlines, Safeco, American Express Financial Advisors and The Boeing Company, among others.

The Chorus' 1998 European tour with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus earned the ensembles rave reviews for their performances in London, Barcelona at the celebrated Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Recording engineer Al Swanson • Assistant Engineer: Tom Stiles
Art Direction: Paul Bauer • Digital Prepress: Rob Bahnsen • Executive Director: Tom Luhnow

Original Over The Rainbow! was recorded at Meany Theater, April 14, 1990, Seattle, WA.
Ave Maria was recorded in December, 1998 and Old Friend  in March, 1999, at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA.