Pietà by John Muehleisen will be presented in Fredericksburg tomorrow, Thursday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
The performance is presented by the Austin-based choir, Conspirare, and the Fredericksburg Friends of Conspirare.
A pre-concert passion dialogue with Muehleisen will begin at 6:15 p.m. with an introduction by fellow composer Robert Kyr.
It was noted that Muehleisen will be available at the concert for informal interaction with audience members.
General admission tickets are $20 and can be purchased at conspirare.org, at 512-474-5664, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church office or at Grasshopper & Wild Honey.
“Pietà is a concert-length, contemporary oratorio that explores hope and love as human responses to the tragedies and injustices we see every day,” a Conspirare representative said. “Based on diverse texts about the last days of Jesus and those of a World War I soldier, the music includes chorales in the manner of J.S. Bach, a simple but dramatic folk-like melody sung by a lone tenor, and choral-orchestral moments of great emotional impact.”
The Fredericksburg performance is the premiere of a newly revised version of Pietà prepared by the composer for Conspirare and small instrumental ensemble.
Featured vocal soloists are soprano Nicole Greenidge Joseph, who has been heard in several of Conspirare’s recordings on the Harmonia Mundi label, and tenor Ross Hauck, who was soloist for the Pietà world premiere in March 2012.
“We are delighted to welcome again our friends, Conspirare, a very extraordinary choral group to Fredericksburg for this rare performance,” said Msgr. Enda McKenna, pastor at St. Mary’s. “Their inspiring music of compassion, mercy and healing is at the root of our Christian tradition and values.”
He added, “The beauty of their voices seems like angelic choirs whenever I hear them sing.”
Pietà is one of several works being performed in Conspirare’s comPassion Festival, its season finale series.
All other festival performances and events are in Austin, including Duruflé’s Requiem on June 8, and J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion on June 14-15.
Conspirare is conducted by founding artistic director Craig Hella Johnson.
The ensemble performs regularly in Austin and other Texas communities, and periodically tours nationally and internationally.
The choir has received five Grammy nominations.