Chancellor’s Concert April 25

The Washington University Symphony Orchestra and the Washington University Concert Choir will join forces for the 2010 Chancellor’s Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 25.

Poulenc

The annual performance, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences and takes place in the 560 Music Center’s E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall.

The program will highlight the celebrated Gloria of French composer Francis Poulenc (1899-1963).

Written in 1959, this joyous and majestic work for orchestra, chorus and solo soprano is based on the “Gloria in excelsis Deo” text (“Glory to God in the highest”) from the Latin mass. It is composed of six short, nimble movements expressing a wide range of emotions, from lyrical serenity to solemn yearning to unabashed, mischievous glee.

Now widely considered among Poulenc’s finest compositions, the Gloria initially was denounced by some critics as too irreverent. In response, the composer famously pointed out that, “While writing it, I had in mind those Crozzoli frescoes with angels sticking out their tongues, and also some solemn-looking Benedictine monks that I saw playing football one day.”

Soloist for the Gloria will be Sarah Shipkowski, a master’s candidate in vocal performance.

The program also will feature the Symphony Orchestra performing Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor (1830) by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849). Soloist will be senior Yedda Li. Rounding out the program will be Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (1877-78) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).

Dan Presgrave, lecturer and director of orchestra and wind ensembles, conducts the 70-plus-member Symphony Orchestra. John Stewart, director of vocal activities, conducts the 60-plus-member Concert Choir.

The 560 Music Center is located at 560 Trinity Ave. at the intersection with Delmar Boulevard. For more information, call (314) 935-5566 or e-mail kschultz@artsci.wustl.edu.