The Musical Glory Of Venice, November 19 At WestConn

DANBURY — The Western CT State University Concert Choir will perform with the WCSU Orchestra, Chamber Singers and Brass Ensemble in a program called “The Glory of Venice” at 8 pm on Monday, November 19.

The “Pearl of the Adriatic” was a world center of trade, commerce, painting, and music during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. This concert will capitalize on its position during this period with compositions from the finest composers that called Venice home.

Nine composers from these two musical epochs will be represented by 12 works performed by four ensembles. The program will include the Canzon Duodecimi Toni by Giovanni Gabrieli for antiphonal brass choirs.

The WCSU Brass Ensemble will be conducted by Professor of Music Andy Rogers. The Chamber Singers, conducted by Dr Kevin Jay Isaacs, will offer seven works in Latin or Italian from Andrea Gabrielli, Adrian Willaert, Giammateo Asola, Giovanni Croce, Antonio Lotti, and Giovanni Legrenzi. The first half of the program will close with the “Winter” portion of Antonio Vivaldi’s magical concerto collection, The Four Seasons. Professor of Music Eric Lewis, of the Manhattan String Quartet, will be featured on solo violin with the WCSU Orchestra.

After a brief intermission, Dr Isaacs will return with the Concert Choir to perform Lotti’s monumental eight-part motet Crucifixus. The 60 women of the ensemble will perform the “Dixit Dominus” of Baldassare Galuppi before both the orchestra and choir join for a performance, conducted by Dr Isaacs, of the audience favorite Gloria by Vivaldi. Student soloists from the choir and orchestra will be featured during this 12-movement masterpiece.

Admission is free, with donations accepted and to be forwarded to the WCSU Music Department.