Department of Music

UPDATE AS OF 11/12/13:  The Saturday performance has SOLD OUT.

The Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia continues its 39th season on Saturday, November 16, 8:00 p.m., at Old Cabell Hall on the U.Va Grounds, and Sunday, November 17, 3:30 p.m., at Monticello High School in Charlottesville.

As part of the worldwide bicentennial celebration of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, the sole work on the program is his choral masterpiece, Messa da Requiem.

Verdi was known almost exclusively as a composer of operas. Requiem was premiered in 1874 in Milan to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of the celebrated Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni, much admired by Verdi. The work was accused of being an opera dressed in church attire. The music explores the complex relationship between humanity and God, depicting a wide spectrum of human emotions from anger to mourning to serenity. But Verdi, who was not devout, wrote it for concert performance and not as part of a church service.

Four noted vocal soloists and the U.Va University Singers will join forces with the orchestra. Both performances will be conducted by Michael Slon, director of the University Singers and the Oratorio Society of Virginia.

Soprano Christina Pier is a Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She has been hailed by Opera News for her "big, gleaming soprano and impressive coloratura…she is a young singer with great potential."

Mezzo-soprano Lucille Beer, another Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions winner, has enjoyed a distinguished international career in opera houses and on concert stages. She has sung many supporting roles at the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera, and most recently made her Seattle Opera debut as Erda in its Fiftieth Anniversary production of Wagner’s Ring.

Scott Six, tenor, has appeared with Portland Opera, West Bay Opera, Stockton Opera and Winter Opera St. Louis. He has also performed as a featured soloist with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.

Baritone Mark Owen Davis now specializes in the Verdi repertoire after a thirty-year career performing a wide range of music in recital, opera and oratorio. Most recently, he has been seen in the title role of Rigoletto with Asheville Lyric Opera and as Germont in La Traviata with the Symphony of the Mountains.

The November 16 performance is sponsored by Aesthetic Dentistry of Charlottesville. Additional support for both concerts has been provided by the Eleanor Shea Music Trust.

Know the Score pre-concert lectures will be presented 45 minutes before each concert. Free of charge, these informative and entertaining lectures by McIntire Department of Music Chairman and Associate Professor of Music Richard Will offer both novice and experienced patrons a deeper appreciation of the performances. Friday’s lecture will take place in Minor Hall; Sunday’s lecture will be held in the Forum at Monticello High School.

Free parking is available in the U.Va Central Grounds Parking Garage, located on Emmet Street, on Saturday night and at the high school on Sunday afternoons. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.

Tickets are $10-40 for adults and $10 for students. U.Va students may request one complimentary ticket in advance. Tickets may be purchased at The University of Virginia Arts Box Office, (434) 924-3376, 12:00-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in the lobby of the Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road, or online at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu.  UPDATE AS OF 11/12/13:  The Saturday performance has SOLD OUT. 

All University of Virginia employees are entitled to a 20% discount on tickets to individual performances. This offer does not apply to subscriptions, the December Family Holiday concerts or previously purchased tickets.

Remaining dates in the Musical Kaleidoscope season are:

Pro-rated subscription tickets for the entire season are available at the orchestra office (434) 924-3139.