The German Requiem of Brahms will fill Lincoln Theater this Saturday in Yountville, with Symphony Napa Valley and three combined choirs totalling more than 200 performers. It’s their La Notte gala fundraising concert, and Artistic Administrator Charles Letourneau calls it ‘the best of Napa Valley’ represented onstage.
There’s more information at the Lincoln Theater website.
Letourneau says he was contacted last July by a representative of the St. Helena Choral Society, Ruthanne Svendsen. “And she asked me this just out of the blue question, would Symphony Napa Valley be interested in taking part in a big extravaganza concert with the three Napa Valley Choruses, putting together about 150 singers to do the Brahms Requiem?” So the Chamber Choir from the St. Helena Choral Society, Sing Napa Valley, and the Napa Valley College Choir will join them, led by Ragnar Bohlin. Violinist Michael Guttman, Music Director for the orchestra, will begin the concert with Arvo Part’s work, Fratres, for violin and string orchestra. “The perfect opener, because it’s almost mystical, it’s almost religious. And then we’re going to go straight into the Brahms Requiem.” Letourneau described the project as “an opportunity to do something extraordinary.”
