Log in

Sonoran Desert Chorale concert Feb. 29 in Mesa

Celebrate Fauré performance at First United Methodist Church

Posted 1/23/20

Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Carric Smolnik, the Sonoran Desert Chorale is performing a concert featuring works by Gabriel Fauré, who delighted in infusing traditional forms of …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Sonoran Desert Chorale concert Feb. 29 in Mesa

Celebrate Fauré performance at First United Methodist Church

Posted

Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Carric Smolnik, the Sonoran Desert Chorale is performing a concert featuring works by Gabriel Fauré, who delighted in infusing traditional forms of music with a mélange of harmonic daring and a freshness of invention.

"One of the most striking features of Fauré's style was his fondness for daring harmonic progressions and sudden modulations, invariably carried out with supreme elegance and a deceptive air of simplicity," according to a release.

"In selecting these pieces, I was focused on providing a respite from the stress and craziness of life," Dr. Smolnik said in the release. "Too often, we move through life, or life moves by us, and we don’t notice the small pieces of beauty all around us."

The Celebrate Fauré performance is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at First United Methodist Church, 15 E. First Avenue in Mesa.

The concert will feature both well-known and lesser performed pieces, the release states.

"The beautiful and recognizable Pavane as well as Cantique de Jean Racine are joined by several variations of Tantum ergo. Madrigal, charming in its simple melodic lines, takes a quaint melody and plays it back and forth between the voice parts. For a beautiful variation in sound, both women's and men's voices are showcased separately, each with their own piece," the release states.

At the piano, Mutsumi Mori is featured in the keyboard accompaniments to these works.

The featured large work for the concert is Mr. Faure's sublime Requiem. It will be accompanied by Dr. Bonnie Loney at the organ and Linda J. Lambie on solo violin.

"I selected the Fauré Requiem because of its beauty," Dr. Smolnik said in the release. " Unlike many requiems, or masses for the dead, Fauré’s work is gentle. It is filled with beautiful, soaring melodic and motivic lines."

Tickets may be purchased at SonoranDesertChorale.org or by calling 480-305-4538. Advance single ticket prices are $18 for adults/$15 for seniors, students and groups of 10 or more. Ticket prices at the door are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors/students.