TWO GALA FAREWELL CONCERTS
In honor of the retirement of Dr. Stephen Bruce, Music Director, and Ms. Susan Saltus, Associate Music Director
Performances will be Saturday April 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM and Sunday April 13, 2025, at 4:00 PM, at Christ the King church, Old Lyme, with the Con Brio Festival Orchestra, and Con Brio Chorus, conducted by Dr. Stephen Bruce. The soloists are Ransom Bruce, tenor, and Bill Sorensen, tenor. Mr. Sorensen is a member of Con Brio.
In response to high demand for tickets, Con Brio now presents two performances of all Concerts. Tickets are $40 or $15 for students. Patrons are advised to purchase tickets early, as concerts do sell out. The performance runs for about 2 hours, including intermission.
Program
Processional: Overture from Messiah, G. F. Handel
Messa di Gloria, Kyrie and Gloria, Puccini, soloist Ransom Bruce, tenor
St Nicolas: Nicolas comes to Myra and is chosen Bishop (movement V), Britten, soloist Ransom Bruce, tenor, semi-chorus, full chorus, and audience (conducted by Dr. Chris Shepard, Con Brio’s incoming Music Director)
Britten has scored a role for the audience, performing as the congregation at Bishop Nicolas’ ordination in 317 A.D. in Myra, Greece. The audience will join with the chorus in singing the closing hymn All People that on Earth do Dwell, Britten’s setting of the Old Hundredth.
Intermission
Kyrie, from Mass in E flat, Op. 109, Rheinberger (in eight choral parts)
Sing unto God, Fetler
Ave Maria, Biebl (in seven choral parts: a trio ensemble, and also full chorus)
Gloria, from Mass in B minor, J.S. Bach
Schaffe in mir Gott, ein rein Herz, (Create in me O God, a clean heart), Op. 29, No. 2, Psalm 51, Brahms (to be performed in English)
Da unten im Tale, Sämtliche Werke Vol. 21, Brahms
The Times They are A-Changin’, Bob Dylan, arr. Podd
Ride the Chariot, Trad. arr. Smith, soloist Bill Sorensen, tenor
In Dat Great Gittin’ Up Mornin’, Trad. arr. Hairston, with audience participation, soloist Ransom Bruce, tenor
Praise His Holy Name, Trad. arr. Hampton
Worthy is the Lamb and Amen, from Messiah, G.F. Handel, arr. W. A. Mozart
