Melodic voices with a full orchestra accompaniment will fill St. Peter’s Church Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. when combined choirs of Mansfield’s First Congregational Church, The Ohio State University at Mansfield, and St. Peter’s Traditional Choir, with St. Peter’s Chamber Orchestra will perform Giacomo Puccini’s masterful “Messa di Gloria.”
“’Messa di Gloria’ is a large work of just less than an hour and quite operatic in style. It may bring to mind some of Puccini’s greatest operas like ‘La Boheme,’ ‘Tosca,’ and ‘Madama Butterfly’ with its soaring melodies and rich harmonies. It is quite dramatic in places, especially when performed in the vibrant chancel of St. Peter’s Church,” explained Dr. Richark Wink, choral director of First Congregation Church and director of the concert.
Wink said the idea for the performance arose through a friendship and collegiality between two soloists, Joel Vega and Dalton Derr, as well as Wink and Bill Johnson, director of music and liturgy at St. Peter’s Parish.
He added that the piece was selected with the featured soloists in mind, Vega and Derr, both of whom perform regularly with Wink and Johnson.
Vega, who serves as the conductor of the Ohio State University at Mansfield chorus, noted that the university chorus has been rehearsing on its own for months and recently joined the rest of the performers in the concert for rehearsal. “It sounds fantastic,” he commented.
Vega further said that the groups involved are very collaborative and want to provide a good musical performance, “And they’ve got the talent to back it up…There is an explosion of choral and vocal music around here that’s just incredible.”
The combined choruses will number about 60 voices and a full orchestra will provide the accompaniment. “The audience will be thrilled by the subtleties and exciting climaxes that the work offers,” said Wink.
This concert is part of the St. Peter’s Music Series, which is now in its ninth season. The Music Series has two more performances this season: a recital by violin virtuoso Thomas Stuart in April and the St. Nicholas Balalaika in May. “The goal of St. Peter’s Music Series has been to offer the widest possible variety of exposure to creative and performing arts, particularly the musical arts, at no cost to the community,” said Johnson.
Helping meet the program’s goal is Charles Hahn of Cleveland Financial Group, who is underwriting the entire upcoming concert.
Speaking on Hahn’s generosity, Johnson said, “That reflects his commitment to bringing people into downtown Mansfield. And part of our belief—a shared belief—is that if we can bring people back in downtown, then we can turn this town around…We really think that we can help rebuild the economy of this town and we can rebuild the soul of this town if we can get our message out there about the need to provide reasons for people to come to Mansfield, like Puccini’s ‘Messa di Gloria.’”
St. Peter’s Church is located at 54 South Mulberry Street, Mansfield. For additional questions, contact 419-524-2572 ext. 2113.
