ARTICLE
The Key Chorale Chamber Series concludes on April 13, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. with “Fauré’s Requiem.” In this thoughtful setting, the soul journeys from this life to the next on wings of glorious song. Quiet and reflective, the Fauré Requiem forgoes the fire and brimstone of many settings, and instead offers music that soothes and consoles. Fauré wrote: “everything I managed to entertain by way of religious illusion I put into my Requiem.” Everything I managed to entertain by way of religious illusion I put into my Requiem, which moreover is dominated from beginning to end by a very human feeling of faith in eternal rest.” The Chamber Singers will present an intimate version of this masterpiece with harpist Giuseppina Ciarla, violinist Natalia Maiden, and organist Nancy Yost Olson. Ciarla and Maiden, both members of the Sarasota Opera orchestra, will also be featured in Jules Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs and a lovely Sicilienne played for the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. Fauré’s masterwork is unique. The composer himself said, “My Requiem has been said to express no fear of death; it has been called a lullaby of death. But that is how I feel about death: a happy deliverance, a reaching for eternal happiness rather than a mournful passing away…. Perhaps I have sought to depart from what is conventional because for so long I was organist at services of internment. I’m fed up with that. I wanted to do something different.” Of all seven sections, the Pie Jesu, Agnus Dei and In Paradisum emerge as the most glorious, filled with rich, soulful melodies. The final movement speaks of a chorus of angels welcoming the soul and leading it toward Paradise. “This work has always been a favorite of mine,” says Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins. “There are so many stunning moments with beautiful melodies and harmonies that are absolutely heavenly.” Baritone soloist Jamal Sarikoki will be featured in two of the movements as well as Michelle Caulkins who will sing one of Fauré’s most beloved melodies, the Pie Jesu. She will also be featured along with organist Nancy Yost Olson in Benjamin Britten’s Festival Te Deum. Rounding out the program will be three gospel inspired spirituals, Cornerstone, I’ll Be On My Way, and O! What a Beautiful City – all by Los Angeles based composer/arranger Shawn Kirchner. “Kirchner’s music has such a freshness to it,” says Caulkins. “These 3 settings have such drive to them that I am certain they will be some of our audience’s favorites of the season.” This will be a 75-minute performance without intermission. For more information about purchasing tickets to Fauré Requiem or any of their Season 34 concerts, visit www.keychorale.org or call 941-921-4845. About Key Chorale Key Chorale, the Suncoast’s premier symphonic chorus, is dedicated to transforming lives through innovative programming, artistic excellence, educational outreach and service to the community. Key Chorale, led by Joseph Caulkins, produces high quality collaborative musical events that engage and enrich our community. Last season, Key Chorale emphasized its commitment to the best in choral music, featuring masterworks from Schubert’s Mass in G and Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs to Haydn’s Mass in Time of War and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, performed with professional soloists and orchestra in addition to world-renowned guest artists, including conducting legend Dale Warland and concert pianist Jeffrey Biegel. Key Chorale further fostered its collaborative spirit with performances of Cirque des Voix®, a partnership with the Circus Arts Conservatory, seen summer 2017 on the national stage at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. Under the baton of Joseph Caulkins, now in his 12th season as Artistic Director, Key Chorale has also become known for its community outreach programming, including “Off-Key Chorale,” a collaboration with the Neuro Challenge Foundation that uses choral singing as a new approach for Parkinson’s Disease, and “Tomorrow’s Voices Today,” arts in education programming that reaches hundreds of students each year. www.keychorale.org www.facebook.com/KeyChorale