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Show Special Holiday program feature Christmas Music 0 fto IN REHEARSAL. The chorus for the Manning-Halverson Oratorio Concert on December 12 rehearses with great zeal. Three outstanding Christmas musical works will be featured on a special holiday program' now under preparation by the Manning-Halversen Oratorio Society, it was announced by Mrs. Carol Ann Nyman, society president. The Bach Cantata No. 142, "To Us a Child Is Born," the Berlioz "Shepherd's Farewell," from The Childhood of Christ, and the Effinger "St. Luke Christmas Story" will be performed by the 60-member chorus and orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 8:15 p.m. in the Dixie Fine Arts Center and on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 8:15 p.m. in the Southern Utah State College Auditorium. The dual performance per-formance is the first cultural exchange of its type, according to James Dunaway, musical director for the oratorio society. Mr. Dunaway, director of music at Cedar City Junior High School, is working with the chorus for the presentation. Professor David Nyman, orchestral or-chestral director at Southern Utah State College, is supervising super-vising the accompaniment and the special orchestral portions of the program. Soloists for the Bach work are Dr. Blaine Johnson, chairman of the SUSC Music Department, and. Virginia Stephenson and Floyd Rigby, both affiliates of the Music Department. The Effinger rendition will feature as soloists Ann Frehner, Christine Winterrose, and Evelyn Petersen. All of the soloists are well known for their extensive and excellent musical performances throughout the area. Regarding the current efforts of the Manning-Halversen organization, Mr. Dunaway stated, "I think that the society is making a sincere and honest effort to continue the rich musical legacy that has been established in this area in the past. "We are especially excited about the performance of two works, one of which has never before been performed in southern Utah, the Bach work, pry-:. trr SOLOIST PREPARES. Christine Winterrose and James Ketch have spent hours preparing for the Manning-Halverson Oratorio to be held December 12. and the other which has never to this date been performed in the state, the Effinger work." Mr. Dunaway explained that the "St. Luke Christmas Story" by Effinger is the main thrust of the program in effort and energy. "It is quite an educated work," he said. "The text is taken from Luke, and in this particular work the composer very sensitively combined words and music in an original style which is very fresh and modern." Mr. Dunaway said that he feels the audience members will be very pleased with the vitality of the Effinger work. He added, "We have some outstanding soloists and we expect to have a very rewarding evening of Christmas music." The program is open to the public free of charge. |