USM Symphony Orchestra and Hattiesburg Choral Union Unite to Perform Verdi’s Requiem Feb. 28

Thu, 02/23/2023 - 02:38pm | By: Dr. Mike Lopinto

Heard in countless TV and film soundtracks, the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Symphony Orchestra and Hattiesburg Choral Union will combine to present Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa di Requiem Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Main Street Baptist Church.

The work will be performed in its entirety by a combined force of an 80-piece orchestra, more than 300 singers, and four internationally renowned soloists. Dr. Gregory Fuller, director of Choral Activities at Southern Miss, will conduct the program. Tickets can be purchased at www.southernmisstickets.com or by calling 601.266.5418 or 800.844.8425.

“The Verdi requiem is one of the most dramatic oratorios in the traditional repertoire for choirs and orchestras,” said Dr. Fuller. “It has familiar themes for audiences, including the famous Dies irae.”

The soloists for the evening have performed in major opera houses and with major orchestras around the globe.

*Soprano Danielle Talamantes first earned a spot on the Metropolitan Opera roster in the spring of 2011, covering the role of Najade in Ariadne auf Naxos, and was subsequently reengaged to cover the role of the Flower Maiden in Richard Wagner’s Parsifal, joined the house for their production of The Exterminating Angel, the soprano in the quartet of lovers in the Baroque pastiche The Enchanted Island, and in Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten. This rising star made her exciting stage debut as Frasquita in Georges Bizet’s Carmen in a return to The Metropolitan Opera and has since returned to perform the role of Anna in Nabucco.

Her other notable operatic engagements include the role of Marzelline in Fidelio with the Princeton Festival; Mimì in La bohème with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas; the title role of Susannah with Opera Roanoke; Violetta in La traviata with Finger Lakes Opera; Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at Cedar Rapids Opera; the role of Sergente in Veremonda at Spoleto Festival USA; and Act I of La bohème with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas at Walton Arts Center. A native of Northern Virginia, Talamantes made her Carnegie Hall debut in a sold-out solo recital in 2007, and was the soprano in residence for summer 2012 at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont.

*Kirstin Chávez is considered one of the most riveting and significant mezzo-sopranos today. The combination of her magnificent voice, expansive range, dramatic intensity of her acting, and natural physical beauty makes her an arresting and unique presence on the operatic stage. Chávez captures attention and acclaim and is recognized as one of the definitive interpreters of Carmen of our generation. She has performed Georges Bizet’s iconic heroine with great success throughout the world with leading opera companies and symphonies.

This season, Chávez creates the role of Carlotta de Obragon in the world premiere of Hector Armienta’s Zorro for Fort Worth Opera, and sings the role of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly for Dallas Opera. On the concert stage, she performs as mezzo-soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, performs in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and brings her signature role of Carmen to the Helena Symphony. Chávez earned a Bachelor of Music from New Mexico State University and a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Performance Certificate from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. 

*Richard Troxell’s beautiful lyric tenor voice has thrilled audiences at opera houses and concert halls around the world, among them Los Angeles Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Sydney Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Teatro Petruzelli, L’Opéra Comique in Paris, Monte Carlo, and Toulouse. His star turn as Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton in Frederic Mitterand’s critically acclaimed film Madame Butterfly, received high praise from both film and music critics alike following its Paris and New York premieres. The New York Times called his performance “the most dramatically satisfying vocal characterization” in the film.

Troxell’s most recent engagements included the premiere of The Hours with the Philadelphia Orchestra; Danilo in the Merry Widow with Charlottesville Opera; Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts; the world-premieres of Lavinia & Anna Komnene at Lincoln Center; the world premiere of William Bolcom’s Dinner at Eight with Minnesota Opera; Danilo for Musica Viva Hong Kong; Graf in Die Tote Stadt and the Judge in Das Wunder der Helaine for the Bard Festival; Dan Leo in Elizabeth Cree for Chicago Opera Theatre; and the Governor in Candide for Santa Fe Opera. This season, he joins the Metropolitan Opera for their production of The Hours. His Metropolitan Opera debut was Borsa in Rigoletto. He has joined the MET for Lulu, Exterminating Angel, Otello and Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Richard has made frequent guest appearances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

*Dennis Jesse, baritone, has performed in a variety of genres for more than 25 years. He began his career on the musical theater stage, moved to operetta and ultimately to grand opera. He continues to perform in all these styles. He frequents the stages of many of America’s regional opera houses, most recently with Palm Beach Opera in their production of Così fan tutte. He can also be seen with the Baton Rouge Symphony later this year as a soloist in Mozart’s Requiem. Recently, he sang the title role in a production of Nabucco with Ithaca Opera and was the soloist in Beethoven’s 9th symphony with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra.

He has appeared many times with New Orleans Opera, Opéra Louisiane, Orlando Opera, Jefferson Performing Arts Society, Pensacola Opera, and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Jesse is an associate professor at LSU and is the general and artistic director of Opera Festival di Roma, a summer abroad program sponsored by LSU in Orvieto and Rome, Italy. Over the past eight years he has served on the international faculty of intensive summer abroad programs for young opera singers both in Italy and in Brazil.

Guiseppe Verdi (1813-19001) was an Italian composer who set Messa di Requiem to the traditional Catholic funeral mass. Originally performed in Milan, Italy in 1874, this epic work contains some of the most difficult, exciting, and easily recognized music in classical cannon.

Written for four soloists, double choir, and full orchestra, this performance is a testament to the skill and collaboration between the Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra and Choral Activities department.

Dr. Michael Miles, director of Orchestral Activities, sees this as a unique experience for students and the community. He noted, “It is a rare occurrence for any music program across the country to have the wonderful relationship our Symphony Orchestra and Choral program has with our community.”

For information about the USM School of Music, visit https://www.usm.edu/music/index.php.