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The mission of the Fairfield County Chorale is to provide high quality performances for the community of a broad range of choral music; to champion the appreciation of excellence in choral works; and to keep the choral tradition alive.
This critically acclaimed group is celebrating its 48th year of performing great choral works in southwestern Connecticut. The Chorale consists of over 100 auditioned singers, representing a broad range of ages and music backgrounds. The Chorale has performed at such prestigious venues as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Its season consists of three concerts performed at the Norwalk Concert Hall, each with a professional orchestra and soloists. The group has also appeared at the Connecticut Early Music Festival and the Waterloo Festival, in addition to many festivals and concerts in Europe and Russia.
Fairfield County Chorale members participate in many musical and community activities. They have made a number of highly-regarded commercial recordings - most recently, Haydn's The Seasons. The Chorale also performs with other choral groups, embarks on international concert tours and enjoys holiday caroling. Summer Sings, which take place in August, are open to everyone and feature guest conductors from the area.
Fairfield County Chorale's repertoire, ranging from the great classics to commissioned works and world premieres, includes: J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248), Magnificat (BWV 243), Mass in B Minor (BWV 232), St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244); L.v. Beethoven: Choral Fantasy, Op 80; Berlioz: L'Enfance du Christ; Leonard Bernstein: Chichester Psalms; Johannes Brahms: German Requiem, Liebeslieder Waltzes; Benjamin Britten: Saint Nicholas; Carissimi: Jephte; Charpentier: Te Deum; Dvorak: Mass in D Minor, Stabat Mater, Te Deum; Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine; George Frideric Handel: Israel in Egypt, Judas Maccabaeus, Messiah, Samson, Zadok the Priest; J. Haydn: Te Deum, The Creation (available on CD), The Seasons (available on CD); Arthur Honegger: Une Cantate de Noel; Felix Mendelssohn: Elijah; W.A. Mozart: Coronation Mass, Mass in C Minor, Requiem; Orff: Carmina Burana; Francis Poulenc: Gloria, Litanies a la Vierge Noire; Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle, Stabat Mater; Camille Saint-Saëns: Requiem; Schubert: Mass in G Major; Johannes Somary: A Ballad of God and His People, Is This Life?; Igor Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms; Thompson: Frostiana; Ralph Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem, Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Magnificat; Verdi: Requiem; Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria, Magnificat.
The Music Director of the Fairfield County Chorale since 1975 is Johannes Somary. |
