The Firelands Symphony Chorale will perform Fauré’s Requiem on April 6. (Photo by Doug Klein/Firelands Photography)

SANDUSKY – The Firelands Symphony Chorale, under the direction of Michael Shirtz, will present an uplifting and reflective choral concert featuring Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem alongside a collection of moving contemporary works. The performance will take place on Sunday, April 6, at 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky.

Tickets for this special event are $25 for general admission and $5 for students with a valid ID. Seating is general admission, and tickets can be purchased online at firelandssymphony.com or by calling the FSO Box Office at 419-621-4800.

Fauré’s Requiem, Op. 48 is one of the most cherished settings of the Latin Mass for the Dead. Unlike other requiem settings that focus on fear and judgment, Fauré’s masterpiece is known for its gentle, ethereal nature, offering a message of peace, rest and eternal light. The performance will feature a chamber orchestra and the full chorale, creating an intimate yet powerful musical experience. The seven movements of the Requiem guide the listener through a journey of prayer, supplication and ultimate transcendence. From the opening Introit & Kyrie, with its solemn plea for eternal rest, to the soaring Sanctus and the deeply personal Pie Jesu, this work captures the emotions of loss, hope and serenity. The final movement, In Paradisum, paints a celestial vision of souls being led into eternal paradise, leaving audiences with a sense of quiet reflection and solace.

Michael Shirtz serves as the Chorale Director of the Firelands Symphony Chorale. (Photo by Doug Klein/Firelands Photography)

Complementing Requiem, the program will include a selection of contemporary choral pieces that celebrate imagination, renewal, and the beauty of the human spirit. Rosephanye Powell’s To Sit and Dream, set to a poem by Langston Hughes, explores the boundless possibilities of dreams and self-discovery. The well-loved Pure Imagination, originally written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and arranged by Nielson, transports listeners into a whimsical world of creativity and wonder. I Plant You a Garden by Lee & Gilpin serves as a touching metaphor for love and care, offering a message of nurturing and hope. The concert will conclude with Jeffrey Ames’ Let Everything That Hath Breath, a rousing gospel-inspired anthem that celebrates the power of music and praise.

This performance is made possible through the generous support of Randolph J. & Estelle M. Dorn Foundation, Sidney Frohman Foundation, Sam S. & Rose Stein Foundation, Erie County Community Foundation and Ohio Arts Council.

ABOUT FIRELANDS SYMPHONY CHORALE

Michael Shirtz, Chorale Director

The Symphony Chorale is an auditioned choir of singers that serves as chorus-in-residence for the Firelands Symphony Orchestra. The concept of the Symphony Chorale began in 2015 and with the premier of Maestro Carl Topilow’s 10th Season with the FSO. Under the direction of Michael Shirtz, the chorale performs classical, contemporary and American music programming with the Firelands Symphony Orchestra throughout the season, as well as presents additional programming and choral festivals.