The St. Stephen’s Concert Choir will present a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major, Sunday, May 3, at 5 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary at 351 Main St. in Ridgefield. The concert is part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the completion of the sanctuary, the fourth building since 1740 on the same location.
Joining the singers will be organist Arno Steinig and The Connecticut Chamber players – an ensemble of trumpet, strings and oboe. The performance will be conducted by Music Minister Scott Toper. The concert will also include solo works for pipe organ performed by Mr. Steinig.
“The Gloria is an energetic piece with lots of thrilling instrumental fireworks, beautiful vocal lines, and wonderful harmonies indicative of the Italian Baroque period,” said Mr. Toperzer. Soloists for the Vivaldi are sopranos Lydia Cooper Toperzer and Nora Barton Cascella, both members of the Concert Choir, as well as special guest soloist mezzo-soprano Mary Phillips (pictured). Ms. Phillips, an internationally acclaimed mezzo, has performed with major opera companies throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the Metropolitan Opera, and has appeared in concert with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Hong Kong Philharmonic, among others.
Other events marking the 100th anniversary – all open to the public – will take place between 11:30 and 2 p.m. They are an ice cream social (serving ice cream from Deborah Ann’s of Ridgefield), a scavenger hunt, stone rubbing and a display of historical documents connected with the building of the sanctuary.
Photo credit I CANDI Studios