University of Surrey Chamber Choir and Orchestra will perform at the Guildford United Reformed Church on Friday 12 March
Thursday 11 March 2010
Conductor Russell Keable directs the University Chamber Choir and Orchestra in what promises to be a memorable evening of wonderful music. Finzi's quintessentially English setting of Seven Poems by Robert Bridges for unaccompanied chorus, Op.17 is some of the finest part songs of the period, including the simple I praise the tender flower, through the elated emotions of My spirit sang all day, to the sultry summer by the river in Clear and gentle stream and the weighty emotions expressed in the last song Wherefore tonight so full of care.
Joining the orchestra is pianist Maureen Galea in the first modern performance of Voříšek's Rondo Espagnol Op. 17. This highly virtuosic work was probably composed around 1822 when the Czech composer was living in Vienna. It displays all the technical pianistic writing used by pianist-composers at the time such as Hummel and Moscheles.
Mozart's Requiem Mass in D minor K. 626 was composed in Vienna in 1791 and is one of his most popular and respected works. This unfinished Requiem has long been shrouded in mystery. Seriously ill and in financial distress, Mozart undertook the commission for an Austrian nobleman, little knowing that he was to write a requiem for himself. He completed the scoring of the opening movements and a rough score of some others, whereas two other movements were written separately. At the composer's deathbed, his pupil Süssmayer listened to instructions as to how the work should be finished. Mozart's last act before his death was to mouth the sound of the timpani he wanted at a certain point in the Requiem. The work is in 15 movements and is scored for choir, 4 soloists and instrumental ensemble.
Admission is free with a retiring collection. The concert will take place at the United Reformed Church, Portsmouth Road, Guildford on Friday 12 March, 8:00 p.m.
Media Enquiries
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