Tag Archives: Easter music

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A Musical Prelude To The Celebration of Easter

A Musical Prelude To The Celebration of Easter

Thursday, February 11, 2016

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1116 Chartres St., New Orleans, Louisiana

Presented by:The Bishop Perry Center, The Rev. William F. Maestri, Director The Cathedral – Basilica of St. Louis King of France and The Archdiocese of New OrleansIn Concert and sponsors

Starring:

Valerie Francis, Soprano, with Troy Poplous and Richard Hobson, Baritones, and Wilfred Delphin, Pianist

Directed By: Dr. Kenneth S. Klaus Gloria B. Callais Endowed Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, Nicholls State University

In a Salute to Leontyne Price

La Vergine degli’angeli (La Forza del Destino) Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)  Valerie Francis Priest’s ChorusTroy Poplous, Timothy Ray, Roland Bennett, Melvin Harrison, James Rodrigue, Myron Hartford, Mark Thomas,and The Sinfonia Singers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity for Men in Music, Nicholls State University.

Vissi d’arte (Tosca) Giacomo Puccini (1858~1924) Tosca begs Scarpia to save her lover’s life.Valerie Francis

Per me giunto e il di supremo (Don Carlo) VerdiPosa visits Carlo in prison to tell him that he is a marked man because he has used the secret papers to take upon himself the blame for the Flemish rebellion. Posa is shot and dying, he tells Carlo he is happy to have sacrificed his life for a man who will become Spain’s savior. Richard Hobson

O patria mia (Aida) VerdiCiel! mio padre! On the eve of Amneris’s wedding, Ramfis and Amneris enter a temple on the banks of the Nile to pray. Aida, who is waiting for Radamès, is lost in thoughts of her homeland. Amonasro suddenly appears. Invoking Aida’s sense of duty, he makes her agree to find out from Radamès which route the Egyptian army will take to invade Ethiopia. Amonasro hides as Radamès arrives and assures Aida of his love. Valerie Francis, Richard Hobson

Summertime and Bess you is my woman now (Porgy and Bess) George Gershwin (1898-1937)Clara sings a lullaby to her child…All leave except Bess and Sporting Life, who asks her again to come to New York with him and tries to give her more dope, which she refuses. Porgy chases him away and he and Bess sing about their new happiness. Valerie Francis, Troy R. Poplous

INTERMISSION

In the Beginning God Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Richard Hobson

For the Love of Jesus Roger D. Dickerson (1934-)

The Crucifixion Arranged by Ellis Marsalis (1934-)

Calvary Betty Jackson King (1928-1994)

Toccata – Ride on King JesusJohn D. Carter (1932~1981) (Cantata)

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A Musical Prelude To The Celebration Of Easter

The Bishop Perry Center Presents Six Free Concerts,
Thursdays During Lent, February 19 – March 26, 6 p. m.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1116 Chartres Street.

Bishop Perry Center’s second annual Musical Prelude to the Celebration of Easter. The artists performing: pianists Dr. E. Quinn Peeper and Michael Harold with tenor Casey Candebat, who placed in the recent Metropolitan Opera regional competition. The pianists will perform some pieces arranged for four hands, as well as performing solo. The popular duo are active in the New Orleans Opera Association, the English Speaking Union, the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society and numerous other cultural organizations of the city. Candebat is receiving rave reviews by critics for such journals as the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco
Chronical, and the Times-Picayune.

The third concert on March 5 will feature the enormously talented trio known as the Honey Truffles, three beautiful blondes who harmonize in the style of the Andrews Sisters and sing both pop, such as “The Boggie Woogie Bugle Boy,” and spiritual music. The fourth concert will star Sarah Jane McMahon, well known opera singer, who will don her torch singer persona for a performance with pianist Jessie Reeks. The fifth concert’s star will be Tom Sancton with his traditional jazz band. And the final concert will feature gospel music led by pianist Lawrence Sieberth with singers Phillip Manuel and Yolanda Robertson. And that last concert will have a surprise finale.

The Bishop Perry Center is an outreach mission for the disadvantaged and cultural center for downtown New Orleans, created by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Center, offers free spiritual, food, clothing, medical, educational, and legal services to all in need, regardless of religious affiliation. The concerts are free. Donations to the Bishop Perry Center are most appreciated.