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Please forward this message to lovers of music, architecture, and
historic preservation!
St. Francis de Sales Chorale Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 14 at 2 p.m.
St. Francis de Sales Church, 47th & Springfield Ave.
Free, donations benefit Organ Restoration Fund
The Music:
This year's program includes Renaissance motets by Josquin des Prez
and Praetorius, Gregorian chant, the Pinkham Christmas Cantata, with
trumpet soloist Edmond Collins, and boisterous carols. The December
concert will showcase Bruce Shultz, an acknowledged master of
improvisation, at the organ. Shultz has been music director and
organist at St. Francis de Sales for more than 30 years. Directed by
Isabel Boston, the choir features the singing of soprano soloist
Cecelia Chaisson, a winner of the Luciano Pavarotti contest for young
opera singers; tenor Rod Boston, who also performs with the Music
Group of Philadelphia; and baritone Frank Lamont of the Bel Canto
Lyric Opera.
The Performance Space:
The concert will take place at St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic
Church, home of the de Sales Chorale. The Byzantine-style edifice is
one of Philadelphia’s architectural treasures. Designed by
Philadelphia architect Henry Dagit and dedicated in 1911, the church
was modeled after the world-famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The dome
is supported by four massive arches and was constructed using
beautiful Guastavino tile in a unique method found in only a handful
of buildings in Philadelphia. The resonant space created by the dome
provides superb acoustics for choral music.
The de Sales Organ:
The church is home to the largest pipe organ in the archdiocese of
Philadelphia, a four-manual, 6000+ pipe organ that Maestro Eugene
Ormandy chose for the Philadelphia Orchestra's recording of Camille
Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony no. 3 in 1980. Probably the best example
of French organ in the United States, this wonderful instrument is in
need of serious repair. The chorale has established a charitable
organization, the St. Francis De Sales Organ Restoration Society, to
raise the funds needed to accomplish this task.
Phase 1 is the replacement of all of the electronics in the organ
console (that’s the keyboard). This phase will cost approximately
$100,000. We are very close to having the money to complete this first
phase. With the money raised from this concert and your ongoing
support we should have the Phase 1 money in hand by the spring, with
work commencing in the summer. We are very excited about the progress
we have made and we thank all of the supporters the Organ Restoration
Society. See you at the concert!
For further information and directions, call the church rectory at
215-222-5819.
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