Antonin Dvorak came to America in 1892, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering America. To mark the occasion, Dvorak was asked to write a work and the result was his festive Te Deum.

The exhilarating work opens with an invigorating timpani solo followed by a triumphal choral motif for the statement of Te Deum Laudamus (We Praise Thee). This sets the overall mood of the work moving from glory to awe and back to glory. The piece builds and builds and in the final section, celebratory “Alleluias” are heard followed by timpani, cymbals and fanfare, providing an explosive conclusion to the powerful work of thanksgiving and praise.

Felix Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise was commissioned to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the invention of the printing press. The jubilant work opens with an instrumental prelude, followed by a major cantata of ten vocal movements. The texts, chosen principally from the Bible, reflect the praise of God and mankind’s progress from darkness to enlightenment.

 The glorious and beautiful cantata, centering on the words of Psalm 150 (“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord”), exalts the heavens and hearts. The work culminates with a fugal chorus of hymnic praise with the joining of instrumental and vocal celebrations.

The Chorale will be accompanied by the Connecticut Master Chorale Orchestra and joined by professional soloists Louise Fauteux (soprano), Richard Slade (tenor) and Brendan Cooke (bass).

The Chorale is a premiere ensemble of 55 auditioned singers from across the state. Current members from Newtown include Judy Bolduc, Ginnie Carey, Lisa Cedergren, Wendy Fong, David Jurman, Pia Ledina, Nancy Raymond, Joel Romanelli, Grant Skinner, Dan Yee.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For information call 743-0473 or visit www.CMChorale.org.