NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The combined choirs of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, along with the Orchestra of the Pines," will present "Mostly Mozart" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.
The School of Music has traditionally ended each semester with a larger work/production to bring the semester to "a festive close," according to Tim King, director of choral activities at SFA.
"Most notably, the spring semester's concert is dedicated to a large and well-known masterwork of which most music students have heard and read about," King said.
This program will feature the Overture to "Le Nozze di Figaro" (The Marriage of Figaro) and "Requiem in D Minor" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
King explained that Mozart began work on "Requiem" in July 1791 on a "lucrative commission" from Count Walsegg-Stuppach, who wanted a requiem to honor his recently deceased wife. Evidence indicates the Count, as he had done with previous commissions, planned to claim authorship of the work, as Mozart was sworn to secrecy in the contract.
"But with just the first six movements and the first eight measures of the 'Lacrimosa' completed, Mozart died on Dec. 5, 1971, leaving his widow, Constanze, to deliver a completed score or return the first installment of the commission," King said. "Needing the money, she first engaged Joseph Leopold Eybler, a friend of Mozart and fellow composer, to complete the work. Out of respect for his friend, Eybler declined the invitation. Thus, she prevailed upon Mozart's copyist, Franz Xavier Süssmayer, to finish the uncompleted portions and add the remaining movements since he had worked closely with Mozart during his illness.
"Whatever the details and whatever he intended," King continued, "after two centuries of performance before awed audiences, the majestic, impassioned 'Requiem' has become a memorial to the man himself: incomparable musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart."
Performing groups will include the A Cappella Choir, with King as conductor; Choral Union and Women's Choir, David Howard, conductor; and Orchestra of the Pines, Gene H. Moon, conductor.
Student soloists include: Sarah Joblin, Leslie Laney, Page Madison, Sarah Jo Martin and Jessica Rangel, soprano; Lindsay Lymer, Mackenzie Phillips, Julia Powers and Jacqueline Skinner, alto; Nathaniel Brown, Joshua Chavira, Keith LaLonde and Jamal Madden, tenor; and Juan Garza, Cairee Mayfield, Brenton Mattox and Casey Parrish, bass.
Tickets for "Mostly Mozart" are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. For tickets or information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!