BSO to conclude season with Verdi’s ‘Messa da Requiem’

ORONO – The Bangor Symphony Orchestra will close its 107th classical season with Verdi’s “Messa da Requiem,” set for 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at the Maine Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus. The University of Maine Singers, the University Oratorio Society and four soloists will join the orchestra. The concert also concludes Xiao-Lu Li’s first season with the Bangor Symphony as music director and conductor.

Verdi wrote his “Requiem” to honor the memory of Italian poet Alessandro Manzoni, whom he revered. Verdi described his feelings in a letter to the mayor of Milan.

“It is a heartfelt impulse,” he wrote, “or rather a great necessity, to do all in my power to honor this great spirit whom I valued so highly as a writer and venerated as a man.”

Four guest soloists from New York will join the Bangor symphony for the concert. The soloists are Jane Ohmes, soprano; Steven Harrison, tenor; Judith Engel, mezzo soprano; and Zheng Zhou, baritone. All have national and international credentials in opera performance and as soloists.

After the concert the Bangor Symphony Orchestra will hold its annual dinner and auction, Picture This! This year’s theme is visual art. Pieces of art created for the symphony’s “Music Revelations” juried art exhibit will be available at the auction. Other items include weekend getaways, sports and performance tickets and catered meals.

The dinner and auction begin at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at Wells Commons on the University of Maine campus. For a complete item description and evening schedule, visit www.bangorsymphony.com.

Tickets for the dinner and auction are $35 per person, or $10 for the auction only. For information, call 942-5555, 478-0429 or visit the Web site.