University Singers presents Mendelssohn's Elijah with Orchestra and Soloists

The University Singers under the direction of faculty conductor Michael Slon presents Mendelssohn’s Elijah on Friday April 27, 8:00 pm at Old Cabell Hall on the historic lawn of the University of Virginia.  First performed in its revised version in 1847 and filled with dramatic and beautiful music, the work reveals Mendelssohn’s deep humanity, and remains in the estimation of critics one of the greatest oratorios ever written.  The performance will feature full orchestra, soloists Christina Pier, Leslie Mutchler, Mark Mowry, and Mark Owen Davis in the role of Elijah.

The University Singers is the premier mixed-voice chorus at UVa, and includes 85 singers from across the University’s undergraduate and graduate schools.  Highlights in the past few years have included acclaimed performances of Bach’s Mass in B minor, an invited performance at the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) 2010 Conference, an 8-concert, 10-day tour of the Southeastern U.S., and collaborations with the Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra on Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, as well as the popular Family Holiday Concerts.

Mark Owen Davis has performed the role of Elijah numerous times, and also recorded with the Robert Shaw Institute in France.  He has also served as a collegiate choral director, voice teacher, and church music minister.  Soprano Christina Pier is a 2003 Met National Council Auditions winner, and has been heard with opera companies and symphonies across North America, including the Santa Fe Opera and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.  Mezzo Leslie Mutchler has performed with the Washington National Opera, Kansas City Symphony, Washington Choral Arts Society, and National Symphony Orchestra.  Tenor Mark Mowry has sung operatic oratorio roles in works by Bach, Mozart, Britten, and Mendelssohn, and has also performed in recital at the Aldeburgh Festival and London’s Wigmore Hall.  Both Ms. Pier and Mr. Mowry have previously performed with the University Singers.

Active as a conductor of choral, orchestral, and operatic repertoire, Michael Slon is currently Conductor of the University Singers, Chamber Singers, and a professor on the music faculty at the University of Virginia, where he also guest conducts the Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra. Michael Slon has also recently been appointed as the Music Director of the Oratorio Society of Virginia.

Tickets for the concerts are $15 general/$5 students (UVa students may reserve a free ticket in advance), and are available at the UVa Arts Box Office in the Culbreth building, online at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu or by calling (434) 924-3376.  Tickets will also be available at the door.

At UVA, free parking is available in the C1 lot off McCormick Rd. Handicap parking is available in the small parking lot adjacent to Bryan Hall. For further parking information please call (434) 924-3984.

For more information visit:
www.virginia.edu/music/usingers
www.virginia.edu/music