Downers Grove Choral Society Prayers of Remembrance Concert
The Downers Grove Choral Society, under the direction of Artistic Director John Patrick Rakes, will present "Prayers of Remembrance," the third concert of the 57th Season, Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. in Downers Grove First United Methodist Church, 1032 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove.
Downers Grove Choral Society draws its members from around the Chicagoland area. Our membership extends well beyond Downers Grove, including such communities as Western Springs, Elgin, Woodridge, Lemont, Wheaton, Frankfort, Naperville, Burr Ridge, Lombard, Bolingbrook, Villa Park and Willowbrook, to name just a few.
The concert features solemn prayers of honor and remembrance from two traditions and two eras. This is the premiere performance of Kaddish for chorus and orchestra by Chicago area composer Paul Scherer. A performance of Mozart's Requiem, composed over 200 years ago, completes the program.
A new feature this season is a Pre-Concert Discussion at 3:15 p.m., immediately preceding the performance. Mr. Scherer, Dr. Rakes and Rabbi Andrea Cosnowski of Temple Etz Chaim in Lombard will conduct the discussion. This presentation will highlight, as well as compare and contrast the creation and inspiration for the setting of the Mozart Requiem Mass and the Scherer Kaddish, which is one of the oldest and most sacred of Hebrew texts. The discussion will include time for questions from the audience.
The Mozart Requiem in D minor will feature soloists Carolyn Hart, soprano, Denise Gamez, mezzo-soprano, Klaus Georg, tenor and David Govertsen, bass. Visit the Downers Grove Choral Society web site at www.dgcs.org for more background information on the works being performed as well as concert details.
Advance tickets are $20, $15 Senior and $5 Student; tickets are $22, $17 Senior and $7 Student at the door. Information and tickets are available at www.dgcs.org, at 630.515.0030 and at Anderson's Bookshop, 5112 Main Street, Downers Grove or 123 Jefferson Avenue, Naperville. The Downers Grove Choral Society, a not-for-profit organization, is partially supported by the DuPage Foundation, its Members and its Patrons.