College-Community Choir to Perform Faure Requiem During Annual Concert

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford College-Community Choir will perform Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, during its annual spring concert on March 24.

A Spectrum Series event, the concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Bromeley Family Theater, and is free and open to the public.

“Fauré’s Requiem is undoubtedly his most popular composition; it’s a masterpiece of choral literature,” said Dr. John Levey, assistant professor of music at Pitt-Bradford. “I’d recommend this concert especially to those who have yet to see the College-Community Choir.

“The Requiem isn’t a long work, but it’s quite moving, an embodiment of Fauré’s personal conception of death and the afterlife.”

Fauré completed the first version of the Requiem in 1888, but reworked it several times through about 1900. The original is scored for orchestra, but the choir will perform a version with piano accompaniment by Roger Ducasse. Rick Snyder will accompany the group.

Since taking over as music director in August, Levey has tried to highlight student participation. Two Pitt-Bradford students, Ashley Bissell, a business management major from Erie, and Jonathan McCracken, a psychology major from Bradford, will be singing extended solo passages during the Requiem. Community member Jeffrey Weiss will also perform a solo.

The College-Community Choir is made up of about 30 singers, drawn from students, faculty, staff and area residents. The ensemble rehearses about 10 times per semester.

For disability-related needs, contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services at 814-362-7609 or arj4@pitt.edu.

More information about the Spectrum Series is available by contacting Patty Colosimo, assistant director of arts programming, at (814) 362-5155.