Young Artists of America has done it again. This evening’s concert, REQUIEM, was nothing short of angelic. The beautiful concert featured pieces from a wide variety of requiems by multiple composers, including Mozart and Verdi and booming pieces like Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Requiem for Evita” to his catchier “Hosanna,” which soared to the heavens sung by YAA’s Artistic Director Rolando Sanz.” One could tell by the sheer beauty of the music that the choir, orchestra, and guest artists put an immense amount of passion and energy into this concert.
The venue, The Lutheran Church of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, MD, was perfect. The acoustics in the room allowed for each number to make the room practically glow with gorgeous sound, and the giant cross with the huge statue of Jesus completely fit the theme of the show. It was very dramatic, to say the least.
The orchestra, conducted by Kristofer Sanz, was particularly strong. If I didn’t know what concert I was attending, I definitely would have mistaken it to be made up of professional musicians.
The three guests artists – Colleen Daly, Monica Soto-Gil, and Kenneth Kellogg – added a wonderful dynamic to the production. Both beautiful and talented, Daly and Soto-Gil’s voices were rich and beautiful and worked in complete harmony in the piece “Tuba mirum.” Kellogg’s fine bass voice rippled through the room and provided a strong tone, especially in the number “Domine Jesu Christe.”
I was very impressed by the choir as a whole. I applaud these young artists for taking on any of these challenging pieces, let alone twelve of them. There were some moments that were outstandingly stunning, including Carley Rosefelt and Marissa Diehl during “Kyrie from Mass in G” by Franz Schubert, Erin Nicklas & Lena Kheirbek during Webber’s “Pie Jesu, and Jack Flatly singing “Libera me,” by Gabriel Faure. Everyone sounded very mature and compelling.
Overall, it was a beautiful night of delights for the ears and soul.
Running Time: Approximately forty-five minutes, with no intermission.
LINK
Listen to highlights of REQUIEM on the top right of Young Artists of America’s website’s homepage.
REQUIEM played its final performance on May 12th, 2013 at The Lutheran Church of Saint Andrew -15300 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, MD. For Future Young Artists of America events, please visit their website.
