Choral Society will sing requiem masses to soothe the soul

Blooming Grove-Although the occasion for the performance of a requiem is death, the best requiem masses affirm both the power of the bond between God and man and the promise of eternal life. To mark its 45th season, the Classic Choral Society and Orchestra will present the requiem masses of Gabriel Fauré and contemporary English composer John Rutter. The Classic Choral Society is a 70-voice choir and 30-piece orchestra. Janiece Kohler of Monroe is the conductor and artistic director. Soloists for this performance will be Jody Weatherstone, soprano, and Robert V. Smith, baritone. Local members of the society include Phyllis Erwin, Anne Gayler, Jennie Maney, Robert Pollsen, Elizabeth Pozo, Denise Vitale, and Rosemarie Werkman of Monroe; Nanci Binder, Carold Kellmann, and Rudolf Kellman of Highland Mills; Tinie Filipowski of Greenwood Lake; and David Casazza of Blooming Grove. The program will be offered at two Orange County locations. The first will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, at the United Church of Christ on Rt. 94 at Old Dominion Rd. in Blooming Grove. The encore will be performed at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Grace Episcopal Church, 58 North St., in Middletown. No admission will be charged, but a free will offering will be collected. Fauré's way of marking this passing is intense, yet contemplative and peaceful, emphasizing the rest of the soul. The subtle and ethereal harmonies in this mass n especially in movements such as the In Paradisum, generally considered to be one of the finest choral pieces of the century n raise the listener's spirit. The Fauré mass influenced Tutter to create his own, one which employs not only the traditional Latin but which interweaves the 23rd Psalm and an English version of De Profundis, among other texts. Rutter's harmonies and orchestration are more modern but no less powerful. Both masses make optimal use of the solo soprano and bass voices. For more information visit www.ClassicChoralSociety.org or call 928-6462.