Department of Music

The Virginia Consort’s 34th season continues with a Mid-Season Masterworks concert on March 3 at 3:30 p.m. at Old Cabell Hall. Under the direction of Deke Polifka, the concert features John Rutter’s Mass of the Children, sung by the Consort’s Festival Chorus of over 100 singers, children’s choir, full orchestra, and soloists. 

Tickets are available on-line, January 23rd, and in person, January 30th at the UVA Arts Box Office, https://artsboxoffice.virginia.edu. A limited number of tickets will be available at Greenberry’s Barracks Road (Cash or check only); New Dominion Bookshop (Cash/check only) and from individual Festival Chorus members. 

English composer, conductor, and scholar John Rutter’s Mass of the Children premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2003, a Missa Brevis (Mass with no Credo movement) with English poetic texts added to the typical framework. As its name suggests, Rutter composed the Mass with an integral role for children’s choir, alongside the usual forces of choir and orchestra. The children’s choir will be made up of the Consort’s Youth Chorale and Prelude Choir, the Mosaic Children’s Choir and other special guests. This is an uplifting work, with beautiful choral writing, colorful orchestration, and a fresh take on the traditional Latin Mass. 

The program will also feature Mozart’s rarely heard Benedictus sit Deus, a brief three-movement work for choir, orchestra, and soprano soloist. Additional works will include selections from Rutter’s Five Childhood Lyrics, Only in Sleep by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, and Children Will Listen by Stephen Sondheim. 

Please visit the Consort’s web site at https://www.virginiaconsort.org for much more information on this preeminent choral society and its many opportunities for enjoying the best in choral performance in Central Virginia!