FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2013
Contact: Rachel Dellinger
KSO Director of Communications
Direct: 865-521-2317
Cell: 865-660-3037
[email protected]
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The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra continues its Moxley Carmichael Masterworks Series with performances of the Verdi Requiem on April 18 and 19. Maestro Lucas Richman conducts the Orchestra, joined by the Knoxville Choral Society and special guest vocalists. The concert will take place on Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre. These concerts are sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Knoxville.
Messa de Requiem was composed by Guiseppe Verdi in 1874 as the musical setting to the Roman Catholic funeral Mass. It is a spectacular 90-minute piece written for a full orchestra, choir and four soloists.
The Orchestra is joined by the following soloists:
David Katz, tenor is a member of the “Three Jewish Tenors” and has sung with the Houston Grand Opera, the Atlanta and Pacific symphonies and the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, as well as many other prominent orchestras throughout the United States.
Bracha Kol is a mezzo soprano originally from Israel and has performed with the Israel Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta. She performed in the world premiere of “Five Tragic Songs” by renowned composer Leon Biriotti (Uruguay), performed on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Jerusalem. In February 2013, Bracha performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for Israeli Television.
Stephen Morscheck, bass-baritone, graduated from Wheaton College and completed advanced degrees from the University of Michigan. He currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of North Texas, Denton. A very active soloist, he has appeared with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Bach Society, the National Symphony Orchestra in Santo Domingo, the Milwaukee Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica in San Jose.
Cherie Valaray is a coloratura soprano who moved to Los Angeles in 2010 after living in Sydney, Australia for eight years. In 2000, she sang at the Lehar and Kalman Operetta Festival in Hungary. In 2008, Cherie sang in Indonesia with Australian conductor George Ellis, at the opening of the JakArt08 International Festival, as well as for solo performances at the Adi Puri Cultural Center.
Patrons can attend pre-concert chats at 6:30 p.m. in the concert hall before each performance. Guest performers will offer their personal perspective and audience members will have a chance for Q&A with the artists. This is a unique get-to-know-you opportunity!
Tickets may be purchased by calling 291-3310 or visiting our website. Single tickets range from $24.00 – $85.00. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 521-2337. For more info go to www.knoxvillesymphony.com.
The KSO has contributed to the cultural life in East Tennessee since 1935. Under the leadership of Lucas Richman, the orchestra consists of more than 80 professional musicians and performs more than 200 programs throughout East Tennessee each season. Performing in traditional venues such as the Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre and the Civic Auditorium, and in non-traditional places like hospitals, school classrooms, nursing homes, city parks and churches, the KSO reaches more than 200,000 people throughout the region each year.