Limited tickets are available for this educational presentation. Please RSVP to reserve your space.
This event is offered by donation only, so please choose an amount that works for you on the checkout page.
Admission includes light fare of grazing boards, hors d'oeuvres, and wine beginning at 3:00 pm.
"Two for One: An Opera in Church Clothing"
Enjoy an afternoon of fun with the performing arts community of the Central Coast! You're invited to attend the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale's event featuring Dr. Gregory Harwood, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Georgia Southern University, as part of the Beyond the Notes series.
Dr. Harwood will present "Two for One: An Opera in Church Clothing" accompanied by hors d'oeuvres and wine. Kindly pre-register for this event so your attendance is expected. Plus, share in the camaraderie with Music Director Dr. Thomas Davies, the talented soloists and singers of the Chorale, and meet the speaker!
About the presentation:
Explore some interesting details that have come to light about the Requiem's initial performance during a church service, followed by its immediate repetition as a concert piece at La Scala. Take a look at why Verdi selected the San Marco Church in Milano for its premiere and the unique performance setup there. Also, learn about the significance the music itself had on Verdi’s negotiation with church officials to follow the standard Roman text and structure, rather than the Ambrosian structure of the mass used in Milanese churches at that time.
Location: Indian Hill Clubhouse at San Luis Bay Estates, 6375 Firehouse Canyon Road, Avila Beach, CA, 93424
Only 10 minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo!
About the presenter:
Dr. Gregory W. Harwood is Professor of Music History and Director of Graduate Studies in the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music at Georgia Southern University. He holds a PhD in musicology from New York University, where his research led to an article on Verdi’s reform of the Italian opera orchestra. His book, Giuseppe Verdi: A Guide to Research, has become a standard reference tool in Verdi studies. Other writings include “160 Years of Verdi Biography,” as well as contributions to the Cambridge Verdi Encyclopedia and the Cambridge Companion to Verdi. A recent article entitled “Trends in Verdi Research,” will appear in Cambridge University Press’s forthcoming volume Verdi in Context. Dr. Harwood’s interests include cooking; reading works of fantasy, history and culture; Italian genealogical record indexing; bow ties; and word puzzles from the New York Times with his three grandchildren.
About Beyond the Notes:
Beyond the Notes features leading scholars whose presentations highlight the times and culture surrounding the works performed by the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale. The educational events offer an in-depth look at pieces being performed and the background and history of the music, including the opportunity to meet and learn from a noted expert on the subject, an enhanced understanding of the context of the music, an increased appreciation for the music and live performance, and spreading awareness about the arts.
The presentations coincide with the SLO Master Chorale’s 40th anniversary season and a concert on Sunday, April 27, at 3 pm at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo, featuring a performance of the Verdi Requiem, a work that requires a full, powerful orchestra, excellent singers, exceptional soloists, and a dynamic conductor.
Beyond the Notes is sponsored by the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust and Joan G. Sargen. 
