BRUNSWICK – The Oratorio Chorale, under the direction of Peter Frewen, will present the second concert of its 30th anniversary series Saturday, Feb. 28, and Sunday, Feb. 29.

Performances are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the United Church of Christ, 150 Congress Ave., Bath; and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street, Yarmouth.

Works by French composers Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and Charles Francois Gounod and American composer Dominick Argento are on the program, sung a cappella and with piano accompaniment.

The mystical “Trois Choeurs” by Debussy and witty “Trois Chansons” by Ravel feature soloists from the chorale, including Hillary Brown, Karen Topp, Wanda Webber Snyder, Vin Shende, Ruby Shields-Morse, Sheldon Bird and John Adams.

The presentation of Gounod’s “Gallia” continues the chorale’s tradition of performing seldom-heard works by well-known composers. This is a rich, 19th century style motet with piano accompaniment and soprano solo sung by chorale member Susan St. Mary of Freeport.

Dominick Argento’s “Peter Quince at the Clavier” is 20th century music of melodious harmonies with an elaborate piano part performed by chorale accompanist Bridget Convey.

Convey, who holds a master of fine arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts, has a special interest in new music and collaboration with living composers. As a soloist and ensemble musician, she has been heard throughout the United States at such venues as Lincoln Center in New York, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, the International New Music Festival in Las Vegas and the Spring New Music Festival at the University of Minnesota.

Tickets: $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door; group discounts available; student tickets half price; and children under 12 admitted free. Tickets are available at Mason Street Mercantile, Bath; MacBeans Music, Brunswick; Clayton’s Yarmouth; Starbird Music, Portland; Maine Coast Books, Damariscotta; Treat’s, Newcastle; and Books Etc., Falmouth.

FMI: call 725-1420 or visit the Oratorio Chorale Web site at www.oratoriochorale.org.


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