NOTICE: Classes canceled today due to weather conditions. Check Blackboard for communication from your instructors.
The Southwest Baptist University Division of The Arts presents Seven Last Words. We are featuring the University and Chamber Singers in concert on Tuesday, November 1, at 7:30 PM under the direction of Dr. Alex T. Favazza, Jr., Division Head of The Arts and Director of Choral Studies.
This program's center is César Francks Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross from
1859. This eight-movement miniature oratorio recounts Jesus' final moments on the
Cross with operatic-style drama. The texture shifts from solemn and stark chorale
to virtuosic solos to fiery choruses. Singers portray characters ranging from the
thieves at Jesus' side to the Greek chorus-like crowd proclaiming, if thou be the
king of the Jews, save thyself! Accompanying the Franck are choral works adjacent
to the Passion of Jesus, such as Estonian composer Cyrillus Kreeks 1911 setting of
Psalm 22, Mu Jumal! and Jose Mauricio Nunes Garcias 1809 motet Judas Mercator Pessimus
as well as works by Rheinberger, Vaughan Williams, Orban, Tchaikovsky, Forrest, and
Friedell.
This free public performance will be held at Meyer Recital Hall, Casebolt Music Center,
on the SBU Bolivar campus. This event is also available via Livestream. Please visit
SBU Area of Music on Facebook for the event link and follow @SBUnivMusic on Instagram.
University Singers is open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members who want to glorify God through choral music. The group rehearses on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Casebolt Music Center of Southwest Baptist University. Please contact Dr. Favazza (afavazza@sbuniv.edu) if you are interested in joining in January 2023. Next semester, University Singers will join the SBU Chorale and Orchestra for the Masterworks Concert: Messiah G. F. Handel.
