St. George's Choral Society Presents Mendelssohn's Lobgesang on Sunday, November 22, 2:30 PM
/St. George’s Choral Society presents a fall concert with orchestra on Sunday, November 22 at 2:30 PM. The program includes two spectacular works: Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, and Mendelssohn's monumental Symphony 2, Lobgesang.
Originally written for 16 solo singers, solo violin, and orchestra, the Serenade to Music is a setting of text from The Merchant of Venice, which discusses music. This lavish and strikingly beautiful work appears on the program at the request of one of our benefactors, whose mother died within the past year. This performance is in her honor, and will be sung by the Chamber Singers of St. George’s Choral Society, with professional soloists, to open the concert.
The primary work on the program is Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2, which he called Lobgesang (“Song of Praise”). Written in 1840, it commemorated the 400th anniversary of the invention of printing. With a running length of over an hour, it is the most substantial of all of Mendelssohn’s symphonies.
Lobgesang is scored for large orchestra, two soprano soloists, one tenor soloist, and chorus. It uses biblical texts—primarily Psalms—sung in German. From the thrilling opening statement by the trombones, the poignant duet for two sopranos (“Ich harrete des Herrn”—“I waited for the Lord”), the rousing “Die Nacht ist verganen” ("The night is departing") chorus, to the brilliant concluding chorus, this 13-movement piece has stunning audience appeal.
This performance features:
Sarah Brailey, soprano
Kate Maroney, mezzo-soprano
Marc Day, tenor
Sunday, November 22 at 2:30 PM
Church of the Incarnation
Madison Avenue at 35th Street
New York City
Tickets are $30.00, available online or at the door.
