Music lovers can revel in Mozart rarities with St. Charles Singers April 9-10
The St. Charles Singers, led by founder and music director Jeffrey Hunt, will offer the next-to-last installment of its milestone, multi-season Mozart Journey project in concerts April 9-10 in St. Charles, featuring four of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's rarely heard sacred choral works.
Guest soloist is soprano Michelle Areyzaga, a former St. Charles Singers ensemble member who has achieved success as an opera, concert, and recital artist.
The chamber choir's Mozart Journey XVI program, with the Metropolis Orchestra, is the penultimate destination in its decadelong voyage through the beloved classical composer's complete sacred choral works, few of which are ever heard live in concert.
"Many listeners find Mozart's sacred choral music as thrilling and satisfying as his operas, symphonies, and chamber works, yet most of this music remains neglected," Hunt says.
"Our Mozart Journey has provided the only opportunity that Chicago area audiences will likely ever have to hear many of these works in person, and with the orchestral accompaniment that Mozart specified," Hunt says.
"This is especially true of our April concerts," he adds.
The program offers Mozart's "Tantum Ergo" in D Major, K. 197; Missa brevis in G Major, K. 140; "Two German Hymns," K. 343; and Missa solemnis in C Minor, "Waisenhaus," K. 139.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave. in St. Charles.
Jonathan Saylor, professor of music at Wheaton College, will give a 30-minute talk at Baker Church an hour before each concert.
Multiple Missas
Mozart was just 12 years old when he composed the Missa solemnis, K. 139, for the opening ceremonies for the newly built Waisenhaus Church in Vienna. A local newspaper reported that the Missa "met with universal approval and admiration."
Among highlights is the virtuosic operatic aria "Quoniam tu solus," to be sung by guest soprano Areyzaga.
Hunt describes the work as "dramatic and majestic."
The Missa brevis, K. 140, is unusual in that it bears no resemblance to Mozart's other masses but does share stylistic traits with some of his other work. Hunt describes the work as having "a pastoral feel," with melodies "reminiscent of Austrian folk songs."
Mozart's celebratory "Tantum ergo," K. 197, is a setting of a motet text in folk song style. The simple and charming "Two German Hymns," K. 343, includes "O Gottes Lamm" in F Major and "Als aus Ägypten" in C Major, the latter based on Psalm 114.
Mapping the Mozart Journey
The St. Charles Singers launched its comprehensive "Mozart Journey" initiative with the Metropolis Orchestra in January 2010 as a long-range, multiyear celebration of the choir's 25th anniversary concert season. Believed to be a first-time undertaking for an American choir, the project embraces Mozart's complete sacred choral works, presented in 17 different concert programs at venues in Chicago and the Western suburbs, including neighborhoods and cities where the St. Charles Singers had never performed before. The final installment, Mozart Journey XVII, will be performed Aug. 27-28, in the choir's longtime home venue of Baker Church in downtown St. Charles.
Single admission to Mozart Journey XVI is $40 for adults, $35 for seniors 65 and older, and $10 for students. Group discounts are available.
Tickets and information are available at 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.
Mozart Journey XVI Singers
St. Charles Singers ensemble members performing in Mozart Journey XVI include sopranos Jeanne Fornari of Batavia; Nicole Tolentino, Carol Stream; Ingrid Burrichter, Chicago; Marybeth Kurnat, DeKalb; Mary Kunstman, Elburn; Laura Johnson, Hanover Park; Meredith Taylor Mollica, Naperville; Amanda Kohl, Oak Park; and AnDréa James, Karen Rockett, and Cynthia Spiegel, St. Charles.
Altos are Margaret Fox and Valerie Heinkel-Bollero, Batavia; Kelly Grba, Bolingbrook; Bridget Kancler, Chicago; Chelsea King and Julie Popplewell, North Aurora; Karen Archbold and Rachel Taylor, Wheaton; and Debra Wilder, Wheeling.
The tenor section includes Tyler Theis, Aurora; Christopher Jackson, Chicago; Rob Campbell, DeKalb; Bryan Kunstman and Bradley Staker, Elburn; Marcus Jansen, Geneva; Stephen Mollica, Naperville; Gregor King, North Aurora; David Hunt, Wayne; and Steve Williamson, West Chicago.
The bass section comprises Michael Thoms, Aurora; Brandon Fox, Batavia; David Zemke, Bloomingdale; Douglas Peters, Chicago; Nate Coon and Brian Jozwiak, Crystal Lake; Jess Koehn, Downers Grove; Chris DiMarco, Naperville; Michael Popplewell, North Aurora; Antonio Quaranta, River Grove; and Drayton Eggleson, Sycamore.
Organist is Stephen Uhl of Glen Ellyn.
Founded and directed by Hunt, the St. Charles Singers is a chamber choir dedicated to choral music in all its forms. The choir launched in St. Charles in 1984 as the Mostly Madrigal Singers.