Chicago Master Singers perform rare English masterpieces

The Chicago Master Singers, with the Ars Viva Orchestra under the direction of Alan Heatherington, will feature three rarely performed English choral works on its April concert program - Charles Villiers Stanford's "Stabat Mater," Edward Elgar's "Light of Life" and Gerald Finzi's "Magnificat."

The concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Sunday, April 24 and 26. at Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Society of the Divine Word, 2001 Waukegan Road, Techny (Northbrook).

The dramatic and powerful "Stabat Mater" is a late-Romantic masterpiece. It was the favorite work of his student, Ralph Vaughan Williams, who described its "imperishable beauty."

The oratorio "Light of Life" tells the story of Jesus healing the blind man from John's Gospel, weaving in texts from the Old Testament prophesies, psalms and other parts of the Bible.

Four of the Chicago area's leading soloists will perform - Michelle Areyzaga, soprano; Sarah Holman, mezzo; Peder Reiff, tenor and Gerard Sundberg, bass/baritone. A free preconcert lecture will be presented by music critic Dorothy Andries one hour before each performance.

Individual tickets and season subscriptions are available at www.chicagomastersingers.org, (800) 595-4TIX or at the door. Single ticket prices range from $15 (with student/senior discounts) to $48.