The 60-voice Southern Oregon Repertory Singers will open their 39th season with the performance of Water Night, a choral concert on Saturday, October 28th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 29th at 3:00 pm in the SOU Music Recital Hall, 450 S. Mountain Avenue in Ashland.

The Water Night concert will combine passionate poetry with beautiful music by great composers from the Renaissance to present-day. Repertory Singers will dedicate its performance of the “In Paradisum” section of
Faure’s Requiem to the memory of long-time benefactor, James M. Collier.

Other featured works include English composer William Byrd’s serene motet, “Ne irascaris.” Byrd is considered among the greatest composers of the Renaissance. Also on the program are pieces by Johannes Brahms and Eriks Ešenvalds’ stunning, “A Drop in the Ocean,” a tour de force setting of texts by St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Teresa. The concert’s title comes from one of Eric Whitacre’s earliest choral works - the lush and sensuous “Water Night,” which is based on the poem “Agua nocturna” by Octavio Paz.

The Singers will also create a lighter mood by performing cross-over pieces by two current female composers. Canadian Sarah Quartel is known for her fresh and exciting approach to choral music. Indian-American composer, Reena Esmail works between the worlds of Indian and Western classical music to bring communities together through the creation of equitable musical spaces. Her exciting and rhythmic “TaReKiTa,” based on the sounds of the Indian tabla. The choir will also perform art-music settings of Irish folk songs. Repertory Singers is please to feature cellist Michal Palzewicz as a guest artist.