On May 2, 2010 Hartford Chorale collaborated in a monumental presentation of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. Performed at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut, it featured professional soloists, ensembles from the Hartt School (University of Hartford), the Cathedral Choir, and Hartford Chorale.
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Singing and listening to choral music is a joyous, thrilling experience! It has been said that music is at the center of what it means to be human and that singing is at the heart of much of our human communication, both within ourselves and with others. But it is choral singing that is the ultimate, radiant, timeless expression of our need to ‘commune.’ As choral singers and music lovers know so well, our combined human voices have the power and capacity to move the soul.
War Requiem – Benjamin Britten
Kyrie – Messe solennelle, Op. 16 – Louis Vierne
On March 21, 2015 Hartford Chorale presented a concert at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford entitled Great Music of France. The concert opened with the mighty Kyrie from Louis Vierne’s Messe Solennelle.
Composed in 1899, the entire mass was first performed on December 8, 1901 at the Church of Saint Sulpice in Paris, with Charles-Marie Widor playing the grande orgue, and the composer playing the orgue-de-choeur. In honor of that first performance, all the images in this video are of Saint Sulpice and its two organs.
Performers: Hartford Chorale
Conductor: Richard Coffey
Grande orgue: Larry Allen
Orgue-de-choeur: James Barry
Producer/Video Editor: Jack A. Pott
Recording Engineer: Peter Robinson – Audio Artisan, LLC
Advent Carol – Peter Niedmann
Text: Sandra Niles (b. 1956)
Music: Peter Niedmann (b.1960)
In his own words, composer Peter Niedmann describes the piece as, “An evocative, modal carol. A fresh interpretation of the Advent theme of waiting.” Utilizing both organ and piano, and directed by Richard Coffey, this live recording of Hartford Chorale is from their 2019 Christmas in the Americas concert.
Performers:
Hartford Chorale
Conductor: Richard Coffey
Organist: Stephen Scarlato
Piano: James Barry
Location: Immanuel Congregational Church – Hartford, CT
Video Producer/Editor: Jack A. Pott
Recording Engineer: Justin Kurtz-Laurel Hill Recording
Duruflé Requiem – Sanctus
In March 2015, with Richard Coffey conducting and Larry Allen at the organ, Hartford Chorale presented a concert entitled Great Music of France, featuring the entire Requiem by Maurice Duruflé. The previous summer the Chorale undertook a tour of France that included a performance of the Requiem at St. Etienne du Mont where Duruflé had been organist.
Location: Immanuel Congregational Church – Hartford, CT
Performers:
Hartford Chorale
Conductor: Richard Coffey
Organist: Larry Allen
Producer/Video Editor: Jack A. Pott
Recording Engineer: Peter Robinson – Audio Artisan, LLC
For additional selections, visit our YouTube Channel
Press Raves
‘…when the chorus quietly chanted “O Sacrum Convivium”…it sounded like aural incense…’
Hartford Courant
“…the real superstars of the evening were the members of the Hartford Chorale…”
Hartford Courant
“The Hartford Chorale gave a compelling performance… [with] demonstrated power and intensity.”
Hartford Courant
“…sizzling…a performance that was gutsy, fierce and amazingly tender…”
Hartford Courant
“The chorus was powerful and sensitive at all the right times and sang a rainbow of colors.”
Hartford Courant