Utah Chamber Artists to perform Feb. 28

Utah Chamber Artists' choir and orchestra are revisiting two of their favorite works on Monday, Feb. 28, at their "Bernstein & Mozart: The Long and Short of It" performances. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Libby Gardner Concert Hall and is part of their "Milestones" celebratory season. The concert features two long and two short works by Mozart and Bernstein.

Over of the last 20 years, Utah Chamber Artists has performed Mozart's "Requiem" and Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" twice, and Artistic Director Barlow Bradford has chosen to showcase them both during their anniversary year.

"These two works are really standouts as far as our musicians and audiences are concerned," Bradford said in a press release. "From two extraordinary composers come two works that are hundreds of years apart yet have similarities in orchestration and an extraordinary honesty which reflects the composers depth and purpose."

From the funeral march of the first section through the "Lacrymosa" and "Amen," Mozart captured the emotional aspect of the survivors of a loved one. The second movement, set to the Hebrew text of Psalm 23, "The Lord is My Shepherd," requires a soprano solo that would melt even the hardest of hearts.

Also on the concert are two "miniatures" composed by each composer. Soprano Celena Shafer, as well as performing in the "Requiem," will solo in Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" and Bernstein's liltingly acrobatic "Glitter and Be Gay" from his operetta, "Candide." Shafer has joined Utah Chamber Artists on various occasions and is one of their favorite guests artists.

Completing the quartet for the Mozart "Requiem" are Kirsten Gunlogson, mezzo-soprano; Tyler Nelson, tenor; and Michael Chipman, baritone.

Tickets for the concert may be purchased by visiting utahchamberartists.org or by calling King.tix at 801-581-7100. Parking is available at the Rice-Eccles Stadium with a shuttle that will run beginning at 6:30 p.m.