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02/26/2019 11:00 PMConcerts at St James’s is pleased to present “Hear My Prayer,” a program of choral and orchestral music of Felix Mendelssohn, performed by the Choir of St James’s Episcopal Church with members of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Vaughn Mauren, organist and choirmaster at St James’s, will conduct. The free concert will be given on Saturday, March 9, 2019, 7:00pm, at St James’s Episcopal Church, 1018 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford.
With this concert, the Choir continues its annual series of performances of great choral-orchestral masterworks. Past programs have included the Requiems of Brahms, Duruflé, Fauré, and Mozart.
The March 9 program includes a selection of Mendelssohn's choral music, including motets and the anthem "Hear My Prayer," which includes the well-known aria "Oh, for the Wings of a Dove." Internationally-acclaimed soprano Sherezade Panthaki, noted for her "generous, golden sound," is the featured soloist.
“Mendelssohn’s music is beautifully composed, with Romantic harmonies and grand sweeps of melody overlaying Classical and Baroque forms,” said Mauren. “His choral works, long treasured by choral singers are perhaps not as well known to many music lovers as is his orchestral music. This program will offer a delightful experience for listeners.”
Orchestral selections include the String Symphony No. 1 in C Major and the “Canzonetta” from the String Quartet Opus 12.
The program concludes with choral-orchestral excerpts from Mendelssohn’s grand oratorio Elijah, including the favorite chorus “He watching over Israel.”
“The acoustic of the sanctuary of St James’s Episcopal Church is beautifully suited for choral and orchestral music,” added Mauren. “Even when every seat is full, the sound is glorious.”
The event is part of a new music series, Concerts at St James’s, recently established at St James’s Episcopal Church.
No tickets are required; admission is free.
Free parking is available on surrounding streets, with accessible parking in the church lot. The church is fully accessible.
Also coming up from Concerts at St James’s:
Tuesday, April 2, 2019, 7:00pm – The Vienna Boys Choir in concert – a rare Hartford-area appearance! Tickets are on sale now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vienna-boys-choir-in-concert-tickets-51362481565?aff=eac2
Friday, May 31, 2019, 7:00pm – Vaughn Mauren, organist, in recital to re-dedicate the recently rebuilt and enlarged Austin Organ, with a program of “Grand Organ Music of Great Britain.” No tickets are required.