The high ceilings of Église St-Pierre-Apôtre church in Hawkesbury allowed the sound to travel with remarkable clarity on the evening of Sunday, May 26. A benefit concert for the Centre culturel Le Chenail was held at the landmark church. The Hawkesbury Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Marc Trautmann performed Opus 48/40e by Mozart. The Champlain Chamber Choir, directed by Rosemary Harden, was accompanied by the orchestra in its performance of Fauré’s Requiem.
The pieces by Mozart were instantly recognizable as many parts of them have been used over the years in film and television.
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer who lived from 1845 to 1924 who was one of the foremost composers of his generation and influenced many 20th Century composers. A requiem is special music written for the funeral Mass of a deceased person.
Soloists performing at the concert were baritone Jean-François Lapointe and soprano Natasha Henry.
The Champlain Chamber Choir has 34 members and 24 musicians performed in the Hawkesbury Chamber Orchestra.
