This Event has Passed
Con Brio Choral Society Concert
At a time when war is on many minds, looking back to 1796, a time when Austria feared war and invasion, is illuminating. On Sunday, April 10 at 4 p.m. at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme, Con Brio Choral Society will perform Haydn's Mass in Time of War (Missa in Tempore Belli) written in recognition of that unsettled time. The work is also known as the Pauken Messe (Timpani mass) because of Haydn's use of warlike timpani and trumpet calls in the last movements of the piece.
But now is also a time to look forward with hope, to spring, and to renewal. And to Easter, the most joyous holiday in the church calendar. In that spirit, Con Brio's singers will lift their voices in the joyous Hallelujah, from Beethoven's Mount of Olives and, with soloist Patricia Schuman, the Easter Hymn from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. And for sheer joy, what can match the rousing opera favorite, the Toreador Song from Bizet's Carmen, which soloist David Pittsinger will perform with Con Brio.
Con Brio Choral Society is a classical chorus of fifty-five singers selected by audition. The group will perform on April 10 with the Con Brio Festival Orchestra and professional soloists under the baton of Dr. Stephen Bruce in this, the second concert of Con Brio's 25th season.
Con Brio's Soloists:
Bass-Baritone David Pittsinger is renowned as a stage performer of the greatest distinction for his dramatic portrayals in the world's major opera and concert houses and on Broadway. Mr. Pittsinger is a frequent performer at The Metropolitan Opera and has appeared in Live HD Broadcasts of The Magic Flute, Manon, Hamlet, and Les Contes D'Hoffman. Of his Helen Hayes Award nomination for his portrayal of Emile in South Pacific at The Kennedy Center, the Washington Times wrote: "His Brilliant knife-clean bass-baritone voice, impeccable enunciation - even with a French accent - and his authoritative, passionate delivery provide the perfect mix of romance, passion, and traditional masculine bravado...His Emile is perhaps the definitive interpretation of this role in our time."
Mezzo-Soprano Patricia Schuman began her career as a mezzo-soprano singing Rossini heroines and touring the world as Carmen in Peter Brook's La Tragedie de Carmen, for which her performance was included as one of the performances of the year in the New York Times. She has sung soprano on the stages of the world's leading opera houses, including The Metropolitan Opera, Teatro all Scala, and the Vienna State Opera and concertized with orchestras like the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In recent years, she has returned to mezzo-soprano repertoire.
Tenor Brian Cheney was hailed as the "next great tenor" by KUSC in Los Angeles and has gained international acclaim for his portrayal of characters such as Don Jose in Carmen, Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca, Rodolfo in La Boheme and the Duke in Rigoletto. This past year, Brian produced and performed in over 30 virtual concerts through the Stageit platform with split screen with pianist and conductor Cathy Venable. "Cheney and Venable have made an art of performing online" (Broadway World). Future live engagements include Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana for Toledo Opera, and Don Jose in Carmen for Salt Marsh Opera.
Soprano Louise Fauteux enjoys a diversified career in the arts devoted to education and performance. Her versatility includes singing a solo role in Peer Gynt with the New York Philharmonic and actor John de Lancie and a tour of Venice with DiCapo Opera and the Fairfield Chorale. She has performed as Pamina in The Magic Flute, Belinda from Dido and Aeneas and Violetta from La Traviata. For Un Ballo in Maschera with Connecticut Concert Opera, the Hartford Courant characterized her as a "pert, boyish Oscar" with clarion tone in her two showpiece arias and a soaring top in the great Act I Ensemble."
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/1063720-0?pid=2809
Price: General Admission: USD 35.00
