JUBILATIONS, HANDEL'S MESSIAH and More Highlight Musica Sacra's 2012-13 Season, Opening 10/22

Musica Sacra Chorus and Orchestra
Kathryn Lewek, Soprano
Kirsten Sollek, Mezzo-Soprano
Nicholas Phan, Tenor
Matt Boehler, Bass

Tickets: $25 through $128

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 — 8 PM
The Church of St. Paul the Apostle
Columbus Ave. at W. 60th St.

THE SOUL REJOICES:
MAGNIFICATS OF MONTEVERDI AND PÄRT
With selections of Mendelssohn and Tavener

Musica Sacra Chamber Chorus and Continuo
Kent Tritle, Conductor
Arthur Fiacco, Cello

Tickets: $25 to $60

Tickets are available online at www.musicasacrany.com or by calling 212-330-7684.

Founded in 1964 by conductor Richard Westenburg, Musica Sacra is dedicated to presenting the highest caliber performances of great choral masterworks, as well as educating audiences in the different eras and styles of classical music to deepen the appreciation of the choral arts. In addition to its acknowledged affinity for Baroque music, Musica Sacra performs in all genres, from the earliest of Gregorian chant to commissioned works and premieres by leading contemporary composers such as Benjamin Britten, Dave Brubeck, Alessandro Cadario, Robert Convery, David Diamond, Aram Khatchaturian, and Ned Rorem. Highlights of previous seasons include performances of Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, Bach’s St. John Passion, Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel and Arvo Pärt’s Stabat Mater for WNYC’s New Sounds Live at the World Financial Center. Musica Sacra has recorded on the RCA, BMG, MSR classics, and Deutsche Grammophon labels, including the first all-digital recording of Messiah released in 1982 by RCA/BMG and reissued on “High Performance,” BMG’s audiophile label. Most recently, MUSICA SACRA released a new studio recording entitled Messages to Myself featuring contemporary works for a cappella chorus. It was recorded in 2011 at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music and is released on the independent classical label MSR Classics.

Kent Tritle is one of America’s leading choral conductors. The 2012-2013 season marks his sixth season as Music Director of Musica Sacra, the longest continuously performing professional chorus in New York City. Additionally, Tritle is Director of Cathedral Music and Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Music Director of the Oratorio Society of New York, the acclaimed 200-voice volunteer chorus. In addition, Kent is Director of Choral Activities at the Manhattan School of Music and is a member of the graduate faculty of The Juilliard School. He is the host of the weekly radio show “The Choral Mix with Kent Tritle,” a weekly hour-long radio program on New York’s Classical 105.9 WQXR and www.wqxr.org devoted to the vibrant genre of choral music and the breadth of activity in the choral community. An acclaimed organ virtuoso, he is also the organist of the New York Philharmonic and the American Symphony Orchestra.

Recent concerts with Musica Sacra have included an acclaimed performance of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, and a program of new works by Daniel Brewbaker, Christopher Theofanidis, and Behzad Ranjbaran, and others in their world or New York premiere performances which has just been released on CD by MSR Classics, as well as Mozart’s Mass in C Minor at Carnegie Hall, a program of works by Arvo Pärt and Morton Feldman for a WNYC New Sounds Live concert; Bach’s Mass in B Minor and St. John Passion, and the ensemble’s annual performances of Handel’s Messiah at Carnegie Hall.

Mr. Tritle holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from The Juilliard School in organ performance and choral conducting and has been on the Juilliard faculty since 1996, currently directing a graduate practicum on oratorio in collaboration with the school’s Vocal Arts Department, and teaching choral conducting. He has been featured on ABC World News Tonight, National Public Radio, and Minnesota Public Radio, as well as in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

For more information, sound clips, and updated concert information, visit www.kenttritle.com.