LIMERICK Choral Union is to present Beethoven’s ‘Missa Solemnis’ on the night of Sunday May 8 for the first time in more than 40 years. The venue is University Concert Hall, the hour 8pm.
This will be superbly orchestrated with 110 Union members on stage, and 120 from Ennis’ Coláiste Mhuire Choir, LCU’s 50 musicians and soloists Cara O’Sullivan, soprano; Sarah Ellen Murphy, alto; Lawrence Thackery, tenor and Jeffrey Ledwidge, bass.
Looking ahead, chairman Darragh Curtin speaks of the Missa Solmenis as one of Beethoven’s masterpieces, “rarely performed because of the degree of difficulty and level of musical acuity required to perform this piece.
“Cara O’Sullivan is at the very top end of the international scene. Lawrence Thackery is coming in from the UK, not having sung with us before. Sarah Ellen Murphy is turning into a world class singer, a powerful, natural alto.
“The level of technical proficiency required is such that only a handful of singers have that, within solo artists. Missa Solemnis is the Everest of oratraio, and seen to be that by the choral community. It was last performed by Limerick Choral Union in 1972”.
Why now? Two reasons, the first being “it is a performance piece at a level commensurate to the enthusiasm and dedication that Malcolm Green (music director) has brought to LCU over 20 years” .
Secondly, Darragh reminds us that May is anniversary month for the execution of Limerick heroes Edward Daly and Con Colbert.
Tying in with a visual art project by primary students at Our Lady Queen of Peace school, LCU has brought in their work on street names named after 1916 to line the concert hall atrium. Sunday May 8 is exactly 100 years to day that Colbert was shot and with the helpful platforms of LCU and UCH, the students’ work will not expire unseen by the masses.
The evening will open with Ennis’ Coláiste Mhuire’s ‘Nella Fantasia’, ‘Johnny Aroo’, ‘With or Without You’, accompanied sometimes by LCU Orchestra.
After the interval, become spellbound by Beethoven’s exceptional glory in a concert that will be filmed – and film worthy. www.uch.ie for any remaining ticket.
