Contact: Sasha Steinberg
The Starkville-Mississippi State University Symphony Orchestra will perform "Haydn Highlights" during a Feb. 8 concert at the city's First Baptist Church.
Free and open to all, the 7:30 p.m. program will feature the music of Austrian master Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809).
The first half of the concert will feature the "Lord Nelson Mass." Also known as "The Missa in Angustiis" (Mass for Troubled Times) or "Nelson Mass" (Hob. XXII: 11), it is among Haydn's 14 sacred musical compositions.
The orchestra will be joined by combined choirs of the Mississippi State choral program and selected student soloists from the university's music department.
Assistant professor Gary Packwood, choral activities director, will lead the orchestra, chorus and soloists.
Michael Brown, who is both music department head and SSO music director, will conduct the program's second half--a performance of Symphony No. 94 in G major (Hoboken 1/94). Usually referred to as the "Surprise Symphony," this work long has been a favorite of audiences and is among Haydn's most enduring symphonies.
For more information, contact Brown at 662-325-3070 or mbrown@colled.msstate.edu.