Bruckner was organist and choirmaster at Saint Florian monastery near Linz, Austria, and at the cathedral in Linz, both on the banks of the Danube River. His Mass No. 2 in E minor, composed in 1866 to celebrate a new chapel in the Linz cathedral, and widely acknowledged as among Bruckner’s best works, evokes the cathedralesque musical architecture of the Renaissance masters overlaid with the rich harmonies of the nineteenth century.
“Bruckner’s Mass is truly exquisite, with soaring lines and astonishing moments of harmonic revelation,” said D’Eugenio. “I have always wanted to perform this music, especially after having visited the breathtaking space at Saint Florian when the GMChorale toured in Europe several years ago. I hope that we will re-create that sense of floating grandeur when we share this music on May 5.”
The GMChorale has a long history of presenting “classic” choral masterworks, but also seeks out opportunities to perform lesser-known classics as well.
“It’s easy to program familiar music,” said D’Eugenio, who has led the ensemble for more than twenty seasons. “It’s easy for the singers to prepare familiar music, and it’s easy for an audience to come to listen to an old favorite like Handel’s Messiah. And we love Messiah, too, and plan to perform it again soon. But at the GMChorale, we are also looking for every opportunity to broaden our experience as musicians, and to offer a wider variety of great choral music to the community, including music that may have fallen by the wayside, not because it is less worthy, but because it gets crowded off the stage, so to speak, by the ‘big hits’ of Mozart, Brahms, and other major choral composers. Presenting Bruckner’s Mass in E Minor is a great opportunity to make this happen. I’m aware of only about a half dozen performances of the Mass in the United States this season – and one of them will be here in Connecticut on May 5.”
The May 5 program also includes a selection of choral motets by Bruckner, to be performed by Alchemy, the 24-voice chamber ensemble of the GMChorale. Mezzo-soprano Lindsay Cabaniss will perform Bruckner’s solo setting of “Ave Maria,” accompanied on the organ by Edward Clark.
The Mass in E Minor and another motet, Afferentur regi vergine, will be accompanied by a professional orchestra of wind and brass instruments, and the wind orchestra will also present two instrumental works on their own.
“Yes, we often include instrumental music in our choral programs,” said D’Eugenio. “It’s always interesting to hear music that complements and perhaps illuminates the choral selections, and the audience enjoys the contrasts of texture and color.”
The concert takes place on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at 4:00pm at the Middletown High School Santo Fragilio Performing Arts Center, 200 La Rosa Lane, in Middletown. There is ample parking, and the site is fully accessible. A pre-concert talk by Neely Bruce, John Spencer Camp Professor of Music at Wesleyan University, will begin at 3:15pm for all ticket-holders.
Tickets are on sale now at the GMChorale's secure online store; scroll down for more options. Tickets will also be available at the door on May 5, beginning at 3:00pm.
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What does it sound like?
Enjoy this recording of Bruckner's Mass No. 2 in E minor, performed by Gächinger Kantorei and Bach-Collegium Stuttgart conducted by Helmuth Rilling. 1996: CD: Hänssler 98.119
And yes, that's Bruckner's manuscript!
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What else is on the program for May 5?
Locus iste, WAB 23 (1869) — Motet for unaccompanied chorus
Performed by Alchemy, the 24-voice vocal chamber ensemble of the GMChorale
Lento from Zwei Aequali in C Major (Two Works for Three Trombones) (1847)
Virga Jesse (1885) — Motet for unaccompanied chorus
Performed by Alchemy
Grave from Zwei Aequali in C Major (Two Works for Three Trombones) (1847)
Offertorium: Afferentur regi vergine (1861) — Motet for chorus and three trombones
Performed by the GMChorale and Alchemy
Ave Maria (1882) — Aria for mezzo-soprano and organ
Performed by Lindsay Cabiniss, mezzo soprano, and Ed Clark, organ
Mass No. 2 in E Minor (1882) — for SSAATTBB choir and wind orchestra
Performed by the GMChorale and Alchemy, with wind orchestra
In an upcoming issue of this newsletter, we'll share the program notes for this concert, including information about the trombones :-)
In the meantime, if you have questions about this music, or about the concert, or need assistance with tickets or directions, feel free to ask! Write to gmcmedia@gmchorale.org, or simply "Reply" to this newsletter.
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Ticket Information for May 5
Enjoy the best prices by ordering your tickets now.
Premium: $35 in advance, $40 at the door
General admission: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Seniors: $22 in advance, $25 at the door
Students: $8 in advance, $10 at the door
Did you know? The GMChorale now offers premium tickets for the "best seats in the house." No, they're not down front in the first rows; instead, we've set aside the seats with the best view of the raised stage and, more importantly, the best blended sound. Take a look at the seating chart shown below. Premium tickets are a bargain; just $35 in advance, or $40 at the door. Accessible seating is available in every section.
Coming with a group of 8 or more? Purchase 8 or more tickets together and get the best bargain of all! Group rates are available for general admission, senior, and student tickets.
Not sure about ordering tickets online? Shopping online employs the same technology that you use when you use your credit card in the supermarket or hardware store. When you order tickets at our secure online store, your tickets will arrive via email as PDFs. You may print these and bring the paper copies to the concert, or you may show the email that has your e-tickets at the door.
Prefer to order by mail or phone? Easy! Click HERE to open a printable PDF order form from the GMChorale website; you may mail this to the GMChorale office with your payment. To order by phone, call our marketing office at 860-676-2228.
Tickets will also be on sale at the door on May 5, beginning at 3:00pm. If you plan to attend the pre-concert talk at 3:15pm, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line.
Questions? Need assistance? Simply reply to this email, or write to gmcmedia@gmchorale.org, or call 860-676-2228.
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Connect with the GMChorale...
...in person! Come hear us sing on May 5, then join Artistic Director Joseph D'Eugenio, the singers, and board in the lobby after the concert for some casual conversation. Let us know what you think!
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And...
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We always like to hear from you!
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The GMChorale is partially funded by generous grants from the following: the Community Foundation of Middlesex County; the Middletown Commission On The Arts; The Marjorie Jolidon Fund of the Greater Hartford Chapter, American Guild of Organists; and Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
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