The Chorale closes its 45th season with the West Coast premiere of Puerto Rican composer Roberto Sierra's acclaimed Missa Latina, an exuberant, celebratory piece that "dances off the stage."

Joining the full Chorale and orchestra are featured soloists, soprano Heidi Grant Murphy and baritone Nathaniel Webster, who premiered the work with the Washington National Symphony, and are accompanied by full orchestra and lively percussion. The Washington Times calls it "shockingly brilliant," and the Washington Post raves "Missa Latina is remarkably organic in its expression...a deeply felt utterance of the heart." Don't miss this pulsating and passionate performance, a truly wonderful way to cap the season!

Visit Roberto Sierra's website: www.robertosierra.com

Read about the World Premiere:

The 2006 Kennedy Center's premiere of Missa Latina was a stunning success. Like a spontaneous eruption, the audiences that attended the three performances jumped from their seats to cheer the work. T. L. Ponick from the Washington Times wrote: "...the most significant symphonic premiere in the District since the late Benjamin Britten's stunning 'War Requiem'... Mr. Sierra's new work is, quite simply, shockingly brilliant..."

Following the Washington success the Casals Festival programmed the work for a second performance last March (2007) with equally enthusiastic responses from the audience and the press. Missa Latina was also performed in Hawaii where the Introitus, Sanctus and Agnus Dei were performed at the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra's end-of-year concerts (December 29-30, 2007) conducted by Andreas Delfs. The Houston and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras, as well as The Los Angeles Master Chorale have programmed the work for the 2008-2009 season.

Missa Latina "...the most significant symphonic premiere in the District since the late Benjamin Britten's stunning War Requiem was first performed in the still-unfinished Washington National Cathedral in the late 1960s ...Mr. Sierra's new work is, quite simply, shockingly brilliant...Despite the Hispanic expectations evoked by the work's title, Mr. Sierra's Mass often relies on classical European musical tradition. This makes his Latino eruptions all the more unexpected and irresistible -- no more so than in this delightful 'Sanctus.'In this section's 'Benedicte,' Mr. Sierra also convincingly breaks the postmodernist taboo against melody, giving his soprano the most achingly beautiful solo we have heard in decades. Chorus, orchestra and soloists then take the 'Agnus Dei' to an emotionally satisfying and redemptive conclusion. A huge bravo to Mr. Sierra for having the courage to invite audiences back to the concert hall by gifting them with something wonderful." The Washington Times (T. L. Ponick)