Ave Maria Choirs To Perform in Naples and Ave Maria
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Published on Friday, 15 October 2010 16:16
The Requiem in D Minor by Gabriel Fauré has long been a favorite of both choirs and audiences, and this fall the Choirs of Ave Maria University are giving audiences a pair of performance opportunities that present the work in contrasting venues.
The combined AMU choirs, consisting of about 80 voices, will first perform Requiem in a concert setting at Moorings Presbyterian Church, Friday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. The program, entitled "In Paradisum: Choral Reflections by Bach and Fauré," will present the Requiem alongside Bach's memorial Cantata No. 106, Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, and Brahms's haunting Begräbnisgesang.
The choirs will next sing the Requiem at a Solemn High Mass, in Latin in the Extraordinary Form, at the Ave Maria oratory at 7 p.m. on All Soul's Day, Nov. 2, performing Fauré's masterpiece in the context for which it was originally written.
"This is a unique opportunity to hear this landmark of the choral repertoire in its spiritual home, the Mass," says AMU's Music Department Chairman, Timothy McDonnell.
The theme of both the concert and the Mass is the remembrance of departed loved ones, Dr. McDonnell said.
"Music has been mankind's companion in mourning and celebration since pre-history. These two presentations give our community the opportunity to experience the music itself and the intense spiritual purpose for which it was created."
The choirs are dedicating their performance at the Mass to the memory of Alex Klucik, a young member of the Ave Maria Community who died in an automobile accident in August.
The Mass is open to all.
The performance at Moorings Church, 791 Harbour Drive, Naples, has an admission charge of $15 with proceeds going to support the music department. Tickets are available at the door, or may be reserved by calling Virginia Hanley at 239-280-2485.
