Festival Chorale Oregon, under the direction of Dr. Solveig Holmquist, will present a mass composed by Puccini, the only chorale work he ever composed, written at the age of 18 as his graduation thesis.  Puccini is well known for his major operatic works such as “La Boheme”, “Tosco” and “Madama Butterfly.”  His “Messa di Gloria” is so operatic in nature that with a change of lyrics and addition of a plot, it could easily be seen onstage!  FCO will be joined by tenor Les Green and bass/baritone Robb Harrison, and supported by full orchestra.  The concert also includes several Puccini arias performed by soprano Laura Agüero.

FCO first performed this piece in 1999 at our first concert in Carnegie Hall, under Dr. Holmquist’s direction, where it received extraordinarily enthusiastic reception by an opera-loving New York audience.