By David A. McConnell
Vox Philia’s annual Christmas concert features two major works by the brilliant Antonio Vivaldi. Alongside his famous “Gloria in D Major” (RV589), the choir will perform his lesser-known “Magnificat” (RV 610). Both pieces will be accompanied by members of Berks Sinfonietta.
The choir will perform two settings of “O Magnum Mysterium,” by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Alessandro Scarlatti. 2025 is a significant anniversary year for both composers: the 500th anniversary of Palestrina’s birth and the 300th anniversary of Scarlatti’s death. According to Artistic Director David McConnell, these may well be the first performances in Reading of Vivaldi’s “Magnificat” and Scarlatti’s motet.
“Vivaldi’s fame arguably rests on his two most famous works — the ‘Gloria’ and his ‘Four Seasons’ Violin Concertos. But he wrote so much magnificent music, and we are excited to perform his ‘Magnificat,’ which I find dramatic and deeply moving,” said McConnell.
The concert is set to take place on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m., at Immanuel UCC, 99 S. Waverly St., Shillington. Purchase your tickets online at buytickets.at/voxphilia/1942475 or at the door.
Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. All ticket revenue will be donated to Code Blue Efforts of New Journey Community Outreach — a representative will speak at the concert to talk about their work in the community. Vox Philia has donated ticket revenue from two concerts each year, usually to local charities, since its first concert in December 2012.
Vox Philia Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chamber choir serving the Reading and Berks County communities. To learn more, visit facebook.com/VoxPhilia.
