Rochester Oratorio Society presents 'Global Collaboration'

The Rochester Oratorio Society, the Houghton Percussion Ensemble, and The Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble join forces under ROS Artistic Director Eric Townell in a program of global collaboration by Ramirez and Haazen on Friday, March 14th, 7:30 P.M., at the Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 North Plymouth Avenue in Rochester.

General admission tickets are available by advance purchase ($20) through the ROS Office, (585) 473-2234, via its web site, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/533962, and at the door ($25).

The energy of Latin and African music for choir, dance and drums makes for irresistible enjoyment in this most multi-cultural concert. The Hochstein Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Jim Tiller, accompanies the ROS and its perfectly matched soloists, Jennifer Tirre and Matthew Valverde, in the worldwide favorite Misa Criolla, by Argentine composer Ariel Ramirez, “a stunning artistic achievement” combining “Spanish text with indigenous instruments and rhythms” (The Washington Post). The first recording of the piece sold millions of copies internationally.

Joining the ROS for the performance of Haazen’s Zambian mass Missa Luba will be the Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble  led by Clyde Alafiju Morgan, artistic director and associate professor in the Department of Dance at SUNY Brockport. The Zambian mass took the world by storm with its premiere recording in 1963.  Sankofa presents dance and theater works expressing the dynamic presence of African culture in America. This performance will feature original choreography and authentic percussion to ROS ’s energetic and sumptuous vocal rendition of this global favorite.