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Mozart rarity to illuminate St. Charles Singers' concerts

The St. Charles Singers will launch its 31st season with choral music by Mozart plus three of the composer's short instrumental "Church Sonatas" at concerts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, in the chapel of the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, 2520 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago; and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles.

The "Mozart IX: Journey's Lamp Light" program, conducted by Jeffrey Hunt, will be the ninth and newest installment of the St. Charles Singers' ambitious, multiyear "Mozart Journey" project during which the choir will present all of the composer's sacred choral music.

The program takes its name from the text of one of the pieces on the program, Mozart's rarely heard "Scande coeli limina" (Ascend heaven's thresholds) in C Major, K. 34. A line in the Benedictine poem refers to torch lights illuminating the path to heaven.

The short, upbeat work is one of many unfamiliar treasures being heard in the course of the St. Charles Singers' "Mozart Journey," says Hunt, the choir's founder and artistic director.

The October concerts will be the first to feature an intimately scaled ensemble of just 16 of the professional, mixed-voice chamber choir's nearly 40 singers.

"We want to vary the aural and visual scenery for concertgoers who've been following us on the Mozart Journey," Hunt says. The concert's compact choral and instrumental forces also are ideal for the acoustics of the 300-seat Cabrini chapel, he says.

Another twist: Hunt is programming for the first time some of Mozart's "Church Sonatas," written for Austria's Salzburg Cathedral. And he's doing so in the manner of Mozart's day. The Church Sonata in C Major, K. 278, for two oboes, two trumpets, two violins, timpani, and organ, will be played between the "Gloria" and "Credo" sections of the tuneful Missa in C Major, "Credo," K. 257.

"The Credo Mass abounds with immensely attractive melodies in the spirit of Mozart's memorable opera arias," Hunt says.

Mozart's Church Sonatas in E-flat major, K. 67, and G Major, K. 274, for strings and organ will be performed back to back elsewhere in the program.

The concert's choral repertoire will also include Mozart's splendorous, refined "Regina coeli" (Queen of heaven) in C Major, K. 276, and the unaccompanied, Renaissance-style "Quaerite primum regnum Dei" (Seek ye first the kingdom of God) in D Minor, K. 86, from the composer's youth.

Hunt says the program will present a diverse sampling of Mozart's choral writing and "a variety of vocal colors and textures," with passages showcasing soloists, quartets, and full choir.

Complimentary Preconcert Programs

The Oct. 4 concert in Chicago will be the St Charles Singers' first appearance at the historic shrine in Lincoln Park dedicated to Mother Cabrini. At 6:45 p.m., concert ticket-holders will have the opportunity to take a private, 30-minute guided art-and-architecture tour of the recently renovated, modern Romanesque structure, noted for its stained glass, frescoes, garden, exhibit galleries, chapel, and authentic Italian pipe organ. After the tour, at 7:15 p.m., Wheaton College music professor Jonathan Saylor will offer a preconcert lecture.

Saylor will give a preconcert lecture at 3:15 p.m. before the 4 p.m. performance Oct. 5 at Baker Church in St. Charles.

The 18 ensemble members of the St. Charles Singers performing in "Mozart IX: Journey's Lamp Light" will include sopranos Cynthia Spiegel of La Fox, Carelle Flores of Oswego, AnDrea James of St. Charles, and Suzanna Mathews of Wheaton.

Altos are Sarah Underhill of Aurora, Margaret Fox of Batavia, Bridget Kancler of Oak Park, and Deb Wilder of Wheeling.

The tenor section will include Bryan Kunstman of DeKalb, Gregor King of Schaumburg, David Hunt of Wayne, and Steve Williamson of West Chicago.

Bass vocalists are Douglas Peters of Batavia; Antonio Quaranta of Carol Stream, Michael Popplewell of North Aurora, and Michael Thoms, of Warrenville.

Single tickets for the October "Mozart Journey" concerts are $35 adult general admission, $30 for seniors 65 and older, and $10 for students.

Tickets and general information about the St. Charles Singers are available at www.stcharlessingers.com or by calling (630) 513-5272. Tickets are also available at Townhouse Books, 105 N. Second Ave., St. Charles (checks or cash only at this ticket venue). Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the day of the concert, depending on availability. Group discounts are available.

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