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The Rockbridge Chorus, directed by William McCorkle, will present a spring concert entitled “French and English Treasures” on Sunday, April 21, at 7 p.m. at the Lexington Presbyterian Church.
The program, featuring the chorus with organ and soloists, will include two popular works, Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem” and Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb.” The program will include also short anthems by William Walton, John Rutter, César Franck and André Caplet.
“I am delighted for the Chorus to have the opportunity to perform these fine works,” said McCorkle. “These magnificent pieces by Duruflé and Britten stand as bright stars in the choral repertoire, and as compositions exemplifying the distinctive power of the pipe organ as an orchestrational instrument. The singers and I are happy to return to these works after some 15 years, and to complement them with four splendid miniature masterpieces.”
Organist for the concert will be Peggy Haas Howell of Lynchburg, well-known as a recitalist in the United States and Europe, and an experienced conductor and teacher. She has thrilled local audiences in performances with the Rockbridge Chorus of works by Vaughan Williams and Rutter.
An ensemble of vocal soloists is known to local audiences from past appearances here: soprano Christine Fairfield, mezzosopranos Christine Schadeberg and Emma Vasquez, tenors Christopher Vasquez and Scott Williamson, and baritone Michael McLaughlin.
The French composer Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) is known for his choral and organ compositions, often inspired by, and formed around, the great plainchant melodies of the church. The “Requiem,” completed in 1947, follows the plan of the Latin requiem service, with contrasting portrayals of the text by means of unison and multi-part choral statements, solo passages for mezzo-soprano and baritone, and a range of organ tonal colors. Complementing the Duruflé for the French portion of the program will be a short a cappella motet, “O Salutaris,” written around 1919-20 by the French composer-conductor, André Caplet (1878-1925), and a triumphant setting of Psalm 150 (1883) by the master composer-teacher-organist, César Franck (1822-1890).
The English composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) is considered one of the most distinctive and original composers of all time. His cantata, “Rejoice in the Lamb,” (1943), uses text from the poem “Jubilate Agno” by the poet Christopher Smart (17221771). Written while Smart was committed to an asylum, the text extends the concepts of worship beyond humans to include animals, letters of the alphabet, and musical instruments. Choral and solo vocal utterances are illuminated by magical notes and sounds from the organ.
Filling out the English portion of the program will be two 20th-century anthems, William Walton’s (1902-1983) “Jubilate Deo” (1972), and the soothing “I Will Lift up My Eyes,” a setting (1976) of Psalm 121 by composer-conductor John Rutter (born 1945).
Advance tickets for the performance can be purchased online from the Rockbridge Choral Society website at rcs.org at $12.50 a person and $35 for immediate family. Tickets will also be available at the door at $15 per person and $40 for immediate family.
The Rockbridge Chorus receives support through donations made to the Rockbridge Choral Society by area individuals, businesses and organizations.
