Duruflé REQUIEM & Handel MESSIAH [Easter Section]

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PERFORMANCES:

Duruflé Requiem photo of Maurice Duruflé at organ

Maurice Duruflé
(1902-1986)

Duruflé’s Requiem (Opus 9) by Maurice Duruflé was commissioned in 1947 by the French music publisher Durand and is written in memory of the composer’s father. At the time of commission, Duruflé was working on an organ suite using themes from Gregorian chants. He incorporated his sketches for that work into the Requiem, which uses numerous themes from the Gregorian Mass for the Dead. Nearly all the thematic material in the work comes from chant.

Handel Messiah Easter Selections portrait of George Frideric Handel by Balthasar Denner

George Frideric Handel
(1685-1759)

Handel’s Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on April 13, 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.

Durufle Requiem, Simon Holt, organist photo

Simon Holt
Guest Organist

Pianist and organist Simon Holt graduated from The Royal College of Music in London and received a postgraduate teaching certificate from Goldsmiths College, London University. He was a prizewinner at the Royal College of Organists in London. While in the United Kingdom, Mr. Holt performed organ recitals in Westminster Abbey, St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, numerous cathedrals and the Royal Albert Hall in London. His discography includes a recording of solo organ music and three CDs. He has performed several times on UK radio and television, including a live performance in the Royal Albert Hall. He has also toured Europe widely including performances at Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur in Paris and St. Mark’s in Venice as well as Holland, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Switzerland. In May 1999, Mr. Holt and his family moved to Stonington, Connecticut, when he became director of music at Calvary Church. In 2000 he became director of music at Pine Point School in Stonington and collaborated with Calvary Church in founding Calvary Music School. In 2000 he founded Salt Marsh Opera for which he has been artistic director for many years. In 2007 he was appointed director of music at St. Thomas Choir School in New York City. In 2012 after two years as chair of the Fine Arts Department and head of music at Saint James School in Hagerstown, Maryland, Mr. Holt returned to Connecticut and is currently executive director of The United Theatre in Westerly, Rhode Island, and director of music at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

Fred Goff, Tenor soloist headshot
Fredrick Goff
Tenor Soloist
Durufle Requiem, David Bohy, Baritone Soloist photo
David Bohy
Baritone Soloist
Tom Mullaney Baritone Soloist
Thomas Mullaney
Baritone Soloist
Tenor Fredrick Goff has been seen throughout Connecticut in appearances with many performing organizations including the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus, the New Britain Chorale and Cappella Cantorum MasterWorks and Men’s Choruses. He is frequently on stage with the New Song Worship Arts Theater Company and the Connecticut Lyric Opera and is in demand for his dynamic presence and versatility. Fred resides in Middletown with his talented wife Ralene and is thankful for every opportunity to sing praises to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Baritone David Bohy became an ardent fan of the choral masterworks when he participated in a performance of the Brahms Requiem during his first year of college. He studied voice during his college years with Roger Parolini. Thereafter he sang with a number of community and church choirs as well as several small ensembles throughout New England and Europe. He enjoyed singing choral masterworks at Carnegie Hall under such conductors as John Rutter, Jerold Ottley and Ronnie Saunders. He has sung in many CONCORA Summer Festivals with Maestro Rick Coffey. His repertoire includes masterworks from Bach to Orff, Mozart to Faure and Verdi to Rutter. He has served as baritone section leader for Cappella Cantorum for a number of years under Maestro Barry Asch and is currently studying voice with noted baritone Paul Lawrence Fletcher of Middletown. Bass/Baritone Thomas Mullaney has been a member of Cappella Cantorum MasterWorks Chorus since 2008 as well as a member and frequent soloist with the summer Cappella Cantorum Men’s Chorus since 2009, where he has performed material drawn from The Great American Songbook ranging from Sinatra to musical theatre. Tom has also performed in the chorus of Salt Marsh Opera’s productions of Rigoletto and Don Pasquale as well Rigoletto with the Opera Theater of Connecticut and Don Giovanni and with Connecticut Lyric Opera. In 2013, he performed in the chorus of Verdi’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall under the baton of John Rutter. Recent performances include The Mikado with Simsbury Light Opera. This May, Tom will be performing the roles of Spinelloccio and Pinellino in Salt Marsh Opera’s production of Gianni Schicchi.
For complete information about Cappella Cantorum MasterWorks Chorus, click here.