Cantate Singers to perform John Rutter’s 'Requiem' in Akron and Wooster

The Cantate Singers, a local singing ensemble begun in 1991 by Freeman Lehman, will present two performances this fall of "Requiem."

Composed in 1985 by British composer John Rutter, "Requiem" is influenced by the style of composers Johannes Brahms and Gabrielle Fauré. Rutter’s "Requiem" is not strictly a setting of the Requiem Mass as laid down in Catholic liturgy. Instead, "Requiem" is a musical setting of sections of the Missa pro Defunctis, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Psalms.

The first performance of the work will be Sunday, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron. The Cantate Singers will perform with the Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir, Woodridge High School’s Rhapsody Choir and Firestone CLC’s Symphonic Choir. The combined choirs will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra. This performance is part of Westminster Presbyterian Church’s series “Music at WPC.” Free parking for the event is located across from the church.

The second performance of the work will be Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ, 150 E. North St., Wooster. This performance will feature the Cantate Singers along with a chamber orchestra. In addition to "Requiem," the performance will include several other pieces. There is no cost to attend either performance.

This fall marks the Cantate Singers’ 36th season. The chorus is composed of singers from Wayne and surrounding counties.

“The group sings a wide variety of choral repertoire in many styles and from many eras, performing music from the Renaissance to present-day composers," said Director Laurel Manning Labbe, a music educator with the Woodridge School District who formerly taught in Orrville City Schools. "Usually, once a year, we perform an extended work with a chamber orchestra.”

Music has the ability to reach an audience on an individual and group level.

"I hope every audience member feels moved in some way," Labbe said. "My goal is always that we touch somebody’s heart with our singing, whatever that may mean for each listener. It could be about the text we are singing or about the attention to detail in our music making. Music making is good for our souls, particularly choral music, because the text opens avenues to many of life’s difficult questions.”