Mass Impressions - April 2018

Chromatica, a regional chorus that recently performed two concerts with the Diablo Symphony and several other choirs to great acclaim, will offer its twelfth series of semiannual concerts focused on many different interpretations of the mass from the fourteenth to the twenty first century. Its three spring concerts will take place at 4pm on April 22 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at 1658 Excelsior Avenue in Oakland, at 7pm on April 26 at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette and at 7pm on April 28 at Peace Lutheran Church, 3201 Camino Tassajara in Danville. The Danville concert includes a wine reception after the performance.

Tomas Luis de Victoria is the earliest composer on the program — his Agnus Dei dates to the 16th century. Add a Gloria from Haydn, a Sanctus from Schubert, Beethoven's Credo (from Chromatica's recent Diablo Symphony concert) and Stravinsky's Kyrie and the breadth of the concert becomes apparent. Contemporary composers include Jenkins' Benedictus, Gjeilo's The Ground, and both Andrew Lloyd Webber and Leonard Bernstein. Finally, Chromatica will sing Bob Chilcott's A Little Jazz Mass.