Artes Vocales of Los Angeles (AVOLA) presents its inaugural concert featuring the Duruflé Requiem and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Dr. Steven Kronauer will conduct, accompanied by guest organist Scott Van Ornum.

Maurice Duruflé composed his meditative Requiem, op. 9, for choir and organ with mezzo-soprano soloist in 1947. This reflective and hopeful work incorporates and develops the themes from the Gregorian Mass for the Dead.  

Benjamin Britten wrote the remarkable cantata Rejoice in the Lamb, op. 30, for four soloists, choir and organ in 1943. The text is based on Christopher Smart’s poem “Jubilate Agno,” written while Smart was in an asylum, and celebrates the unique expression of all created things in their praise and worship of God. 

Also featured on the program is Ave Verum Corpus by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ave Maria I by Franz Liszt, both glorious musical expressions of faith.