An evening of delightful sounds and harmonies was had at this past event, French Masterworks: Fauré Requiem & Poulenc Organ Concerto. This was an outstanding collaboration between our parish choir and the Notre Dame Preparatory Academy choir, paired with Michael Salazar on the organ and a fantastic orchestra ensemble.
The concert was held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, in the Saint Barnabas Sanctuary. It featured the performance of two masterpieces of French composers: Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Francis Poulenc’s Organ Concerto. The Requiem is a serene and soothing choral work that expresses the composer’s faith in eternal rest, while the Organ Concerto is a lively and colorful piece that showcases our own Michael Salazar’s virtuosity and the orchestra’s versatility.
A couple of highlights from the concert included the powerful voices of the soloists Sarah Smith and Andrew Parsley from our parish choir.
Did you know? Soprano soloist Sarah Smith has performed with the Phoenix Symphony and also in highly ranked music productions like Haydn’s “The Creation”, Brahms’s “Ein Deutsches Requiem,” and musicals like “Into the Woods” and “Cinderella.” She is an accomplished choral performer and section leader for various choruses.
Andrew Parsley’s love for music emerged from being in a band and expanded to choral music, musical theater, and opera. His deep powerful baritone voice is showcased in many operatic and crossover roles. Make sure to catch him in February in his upcoming role as Giorgio Germont in “La Traviata” with the Chandler Opera Company.
This concert was part of the Concerts on the Desert series, which offers a variety of musical events throughout the year. If you missed Saturday’s performance, you can still catch upcoming ones, including Advent Lessons and Carols on December 9 and the Twelfth Night Concert on January 5.
The Saint Barnabas Friends of Music
The Saint Barnabas Friends of Music provides additional support for music at the parish beyond the church’s general budget by helping make possible special music at Christmas and Easter and for other church celebrations. Friends of Music works closely with the church’s ministries and mission to the community.
You can help by volunteering your time with pre-concert and post-concert duties and/or by making a financial contribution. If you would like to become an active part of the Friends of Music, please email our music department.
