We have treasures in Sarasota, and Gloria Musicae is surely one of our finest resident jewels.

This select ensemble of auditioned singers, in the 30 years since its founding, has brought joy to audiences here and in Europe as well. It has been the chorus-in-residence at the Classical Music Seminar-Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria, and has given a series of concerts in Italy which culminated in a Mass sung at St. Peter’s in Rome. This summer, Gloria Musicae will return to Italy for a choral tour of the Amalfi coast.

Monday, we will have the chorus all to ourselves at the Sarasota Opera House for a program with orchestra that will include Haydn’s magnificent “Seven Last Words of Christ” and Vaughan Williams’ “Five Mystical Songs.” The soloists are Leah Wool from the Metropolitan Opera; Staff Sgt. Matthew Heil, formerly of the U.S. Army Chorus; baritone Marcus DeLoach and local Sarasota artist soprano Michelle Giglio.

The chorus is made up of 45 mostly young singers. Artistic Director Joseph Holt and Alan Corey at the piano begin rehearsals right on time.

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It was a modest, yet enthusiastic audience that cheered their favorite professional chorus, Gloria Musicae, in a exceptional performance titled “Mystical Sounds” at the Sarasota Opera House. Accompanied by a full orchestra under the direction of artistic director Dr. Joseph Holt, the chorus and soloists sang Franz Joseph Haydn’s “The Seven Last Words of Our Savior On the Cross” with clarity and conviction.

This is not considered one of Haydn’s major vocal works, but it is notable for its origin as a commissioned work for chamber orchestra and subsequent journey to this final choral version. Either way it was clearly a sacred work intended for performance during the Christian holy week prior to Easter. While the Opera House is not a church, the audience could easily take these moments to reflect on the text as it is amplified by the music.

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Photos by Bruce Lehman

REVIEW: Mozart’s intriguing ‘Requiem’ never fails to impress in Gloria Musicae performance
By Richard Storm, Herald-Tribune

The Gloria Musicae Singers, a professional chorus based in Sarasota, has always brought unusual and challenging programs to its audiences.

Monday night’s concert at the Sarasota Opera House was no exception, despite the focus on what may well be Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most famous and mysterious choral work, his setting of the Requiem Mass text.

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http://www.yourobserver.com/news/sarasota/A-and-E/120120109065/Fresh-Pipes

Rachel Assi is exactly where she wants to be right now: at a downtown Sarasota coffee shop, sipping a chai latte out of a giant coffee mug, enjoying a rare slow week and preparing for Gloria Musicae’s upcoming Christmas concert.

The Dec. 6 show at St. Boniface Episcopal Church (Buy Tickets) will be Assi’s first concert as chorus manager.

The 25-year-old mezzo-soprano joined the chamber choir in September 2009. A year later, she was promoted to chorus manager, a position that she not only wanted but was perfectly suited.

“When we put out the word that we were looking for a chorus manager, we didn’t expect to get anyone from within the ensemble,” says Gloria Musicae Director Dr. Joseph Holt. “It’s a rather unique thing for a musician to possess the necessary skills to manage the day-to-day operations of an organization. With Rachel, we couldn’t have found a better match.”

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(benefit tix by invitation) GM & Faith Lutheran Church at Faith Lutheran 03/27/2011 4:30PM $25 for CONCERT ONLY

(benefit tix by invitation) Mozart “Requiem” – - Sarasota Opera House 04/11/2011 7:30PM $25 A Fabulous Fourth – - Historic Asolo 07/04/2011 4:00PM $25

PURCHASE TICKETS
==By Internet==
Click on the BUY TICKETS button next to the event(s) above.
==By Phone==
941.360.7399 (Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

For more information, please call 941-925-3183 or email JLebell@gloriamusicae.org