May 13, 2008

The California State University, Fresno Chamber Singers, the Early Music Ensemble and Coro Piccolo of the Fresno Community Chorus will perform Monteverdi's “Vespro Della Beata Vergine” on Saturday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will be in the Music Department Concert Hall at Fresno State. Tickets are $15 general, $8 students.

Typically referred to as the Monteverdi Vespers, it presents intimate, prayerful moments within a monumental scale. The work was the main element of Monteverdi's audition composition for the musical post at the cathedral in San Marco, Venice.

This concert represents a unique collaboration that has been a year in the planning because of the varied resources necessary to mount this work. Vespers calls for a choir large and skillful enough to cover up to 10 vocal parts in some movements, to split into separate choirs in others, and to accompany numerous soloists.

In addition to the voices of Coro Piccolo and the Fresno State Chamber Singers, a variety of instrumentalists – brass, organ, and string players – are required.

Lending their expertise to the program are Fresno State faculty members Dr. John Karr and Helene Joseph-Weil. The concert is under the direction of Dr. Anna Hamre, director of Choral Activities at Fresno State.

Related link: www.csufresno.edu/music/CurrentEvents.html