Starkville/msu Symphony Association to present “Expressions of Sound” on March 4

Music lovers in the Golden Triangle area will have a chance to hear pieces of familiar composers yet not so familiar compositions when the Starkville/msu Symphony Association will present “Expressions of Sound”, March 4th at the First Baptist Church, on Lampkin St. in Starkville. The 7:30 performance will include the Starkville/msu Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Phillip Stockton, Associate Director of Choral Studies in the MSU Music Department. Accompanying the orchestra will be the Community Chorus, MSU Cantore', and the Starkville High School Chamber Singers.

Jubilate Ex(s)ultate (rejoice, be joyful) will begin the concert and feature Dr. Roza Tulyaganova, voice faculty at MSU, as guest soloist. This three-part movement was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for the famous soprano castrato Venanzio Ranzzini who was principal for the Opera of Vienna for several years.

Dr. Tulyaganova will then be joined by the Community Chorus, the MSU Cantore', and the Starkville High School Chamber Choir in presenting Mozart's

Mass in C major, or better known as “Coronation Mass”. This work is considered one of Mozart's “most remarkable church compositions”, along with his Requiem. Also, like the later piece, this too was unfinished at the time of his death. Other soloists include Dr. Jeannette Fontaine, Dr. Garrett Torbert and Dr. Chris Withrow.

The orchestra will close the concert with Symphony No. 98 which was composed by Joseph Haydn during his time in London. In the composition, Haydn quotes a portion of Mozart's “Coronation Mass” in the second movement, Adagio Cantabile. Haydn was still in London in December, 1791 when he received the devastating news of the death of Mozart. He was working on Symphony No. 98 at the time and decided to pay homage to the composer in this piece.

Directors for the choral groups include Dr. Stockton, MSU Cantore', Peter Infanger, Community Chorus, and Jennifer Davis, Starkville High School Chamber Singers.

Parking is available around the First Baptist Church complex with more located behind. The concert is free and open to the public.