Sunday Times 2
Franz Schubert’s Mass in G major to come alive at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena
View(s):Two choral groups will participate in bringing alive the “Mass in G major by Franz Schubert” on Sunday, February 18, at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena at 6 p.m.
The mass will be concelebrated by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. This beautiful “devotional” Mass will be sung in its original Latin text.
The “Proper” or the specific text for the day will be sung by the Sri Lanka Pueri Cantores, comprising many school choirs directed by Francis D Almeida.
The “Ordinary” (by no means ordinary!) or the sections of the Mass that are normally recited by the congregation on a regular basis, will be sung by the Chorus Sacrum comprising a host of professional choirs directed by the English conductor, Professor Gregory Rose.
Three talented soloists – Dinushka Jayawickreme (Soprano), Nishantha Warnakulasuriya (Tenor) and Laknath Seneviratne (Bass) will also participate in this performance.
The Chamber Music Society of Colombo directed by Lakshman Joseph De Saram will accompany the entire work.Schubert’s Mass in G major D 167 is one of the most popular of the three short Masses he composed.
He started composing this Mass on March 2nd 1815 and within a few days by March 7th had completed it. However, it was first scored for string orchestra and organ continuo and was not published till 1846, well after his death.Chorus Sacrum sings the Mass ordinare (the normal sections of the mass, according to the given liturgy which in ancient times was composed by the resident church organist and sung by a trained in-house choir) from the right side of the cathedral.
The combined singers from the Archdiocesan choir and Parish choirs is a new feature known as “Sri Lanka Pueri Cantores”, conducted by Francis d’ Almeida with assistance from Nimal Victoria and accompanied by concert pianist Rayanthi Kumaranathunga. The congregation will be in for a rare treat with such works as WilliamByrd’s Ave Verum and Miserere by Georgoi Allegri.
This choir will sing the Mass proper on the left side of the cathedral. The public is warmly invited to this treat of classical music on February 18 at 6 pm. at St. Lucia’s Cathedral.
For further information please contact Shivanthi Subramaniam (0766078545)