FOUR REQUIEMS: Music of mourning and consolation

June 8th, 2012, 8:00 PM

FOUR REQUIEMS: Music of mourning and consolation

619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street
New York, NY 10022

The tradition of the Requiem mass has been to honor the dead and console the living.

The first half of the program compares and contrasts the use of the Requiem from lush Icelandic composer, Jón Leifs, to the late baroque style of Johann Christian Bach (who was the 11th son of J.S. Bach!) Members of the REBEL Baroque Ensemble will coach and perform with SONOS Chamber Orchestra. The Dies Irae was last heard in the United States in 1983, and this will be the New York premiere.

The second half of the concert features Swedish composer Fredrik Sixten‘s Requiem, with the composer in attendance. This will be the United States premiere of this magnificent piece, full of power and poignancy. It will be sung in English and Latin. “Fredrik Sixten is firmly rooted in a Swedish music tradition, but at the same time with a musical language all his own…” (click here to read article)

This music has the power and emotion to transport you to a place of comfort and meditation. Join us!

PROGRAM

Jón Leifs (1899-1968)
Elegy for string orchestra

Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782)
Dies Irae for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, double mixed choir and chamber orchestra (New York premiere)

Jón Leifs (1899-1968)
Requiem for acapella choir

-intermission–

Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962)
Requiem for soprano, bass, mixed choir and chamber orchestra (U.S. premiere)

Patrick Cassidy (b. 1956)
Vide Cor Meum

Erik E. Ochsner, music director
REBEL Baroque Ensemble
Christina Arethas, soprano
Teresa Buchholz, mezzo-soprano
Dann Coakwell, tenor
Eric Jordan, bass
SONOS Chamber Orchestra Choir