St. Rose of Lima, Short Hills Presents The Masterwork Chorus in Rarely-Performed Works

St. Rose of Lima Church presents the widely acclaimed Masterwork Chorus under the baton of Andrew Megill, Music Director, performing works by Ottorino Respighi and Michael Haydn on December 2 at 8 pm. Respighi’s charming and colorful Laud to the Nativity, scored for 2 flutes, oboe, English horn, two bassoons and piano (4-hands), depicts the shepherds’ and angels’ experience of the Nativity story, with soloists portraying the angel, the shepherd, and the Virgin Mary, and the chorus as groups of shepherds and angels as the story unfolds. Michael Haydn’s Missa Sancti Hieronymi, accompanied by two solo oboes and continuo, was hailed by Mozart’s father as a model for the composition of Masses.  Michael Haydn was viewed in his day as a more important composer of sacred music than his (now more famous) older brother Joseph.  Soloists for these performances are soprano Justine Aronson; mezzo soprano Melissa Attebury; tenor Marcio de Oliveira; and bass-baritone Scott Purcell. 

Msgr. George Trabold of St. Rose of Lima Church said, "This concert is an opportunity to welcome Advent and the Christmas season with a deeper meaning through beautiful music."

Tickets, at $35.00, are available at www.stroseshorthills.org or call 973-376-1960. More information about The Masterwork Chorus can be found at www.masterworkchorus.org .