The West Virginia University Choral Area, directed by Kathleen Shannon, will present a concert titled “The Music of Gabriel Faur�,” Sunday, Feb. 20, in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the Creative Arts Center.

The concert begins at 3:15 p.m. and will feature special guest Dr. William Haller, organist.

It will feature the WVU Women’s Choir, conducted by student Sara Nale, performing “Messe Basse for Women’s Voices” and the University Choir, conducted by Dr. Shannon, in “Tu es Petrus Cantique de Jean Racine.”

The entire WVU Choral Area, conducted by student Shou Ping Liu, will perform Faur�’s “Requiem, op. 48,” featuring Dr. Haller.

Gabriel Faur� (1845-1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-Century composers. Among his best-known works are his Nocturnes for piano, the songs “Apr�s un r�ve” and “Clair de lune” and his “Requiem.”

“Messe Basse,” first performed in a small French church in 1872, was originally written specifically for women’s voices.

“Tu es Petrus Cantique de Jean Racine” was written when he was only 20 years old and is based on a text by the 17th Century French dramatist Jean Baptiste Racine.

His “Requiem” was composed between 1887 and 1890 and is a choral-orchestral setting of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead. It is the best known of his large works.

For tickets, contact the Mountainlair and CAC Box Offices at (304) 293-SHOW.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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