(Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)
MADISON — The Madison Diocesan Choir directed by Dr. Patrick Gorman — joined by a chamber orchestra and four guest soloists — presented what Bishop Robert C. Morlino called a “spectacularly beautiful” concert of choral masterworks at its spring concert on Friday, May 9.
It could be the choir’s final concert at the Bishop O’Connor Center, since the Diocese of Madison has announced its plans to lease the center to a developer.
In brief remarks after the intermission, Bishop Morlino said the concert was a “great gift” of beauty from the choir and the diocese to the audience. Experiencing such beauty should “lift our minds and hearts to God,” said the bishop.
The concert certainly fulfilled that purpose as it presented two pieces in the concert’s first half — Zakok the Priest by G.F. Handel and Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams — which are seldom heard in this country. The second half included inspiring pieces in Latin from Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria.
The guest soloists included bass-baritone Benjamin Schultz of Madison; sopranos Shannon O’Brien Kaszuba of Monroe and Katherine Rusch of Madison; and mezzo-soprano Michele Gillett of Madison.
The 20-piece orchestra added to the beauty of the concert with David Huntsman, a native of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison, serving as concertmaster. The choir’s Assistant Director Glenn Schuster also accompanied the choir on piano and organ.