Hear the choral masterwork 'Gloria in D Major' by Vivaldi: Things to do in Polk

LAKELAND — It’s considered one of choral music’s masterworks, having been performed countless times over the centuries around the world.

And Sunday, May 5, the world-renowned “Gloria in D Major: RV 589” by Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741) will ring out in Lakeland through the voices of the Lakeland Choral Society.

The approximately 80-voice Choral Society will perform “Gloria RV 589” for its spring concert in City Central  Church, 310 Frank Lloyd Wright Way, Lakeland. “Gloria,” composed about 1715, received its 20th-century premiere in 1930 and has remained the most popular of all Vivaldi's vocal works.

Nick Geraci, Choral Society board president, has sung bass with the choir for about six years. He said the 57-year-old group averages between 60 and 70 members — ranging in age from 18 to the upper 70s — and has three concerts each season. He said during the holidays, the same concert will be performed at different venues, one in Winter Haven and one in Lakeland.

Geraci said the Vivaldi masterwork was selected for the 3 p.m. concert by choral director Michelle Manzi, partly because of the approximately 80 singers currently in the choir.

“Because we have such a healthy and robust choir this year, we went for the gusto, and we chose one of Vivaldi’s masterworks. We have to strike while the iron is hot,” he said.

The choir will be accompanied by other instruments and pianist Virginia Zechiel, who besides teaching piano at Polk State College has also been the music director for the Polk State Theatre musicals since 2009.

One of the premises of the Choral Society is to focus on the great works of classical and contemporary choral music to raise money for music scholarships for Polk County high school and college students who are enrolled in or who are planning to enroll in a vocal music college program.

The scholarship winners are invited to perform pieces by other composers during the spring concert. For the spring concert, those will be “Bel Piacere” from the opera “Agrippina” by George Frederich Handel (1685-1759), sung by college scholarship winner Kala Nelson. The other is “Per La Gloria D’adoravi” by Giovanni Bononcini (1670-1747), sung by high school scholarship recipient Sebastian Garland.

But the focus of the choir's spring concert will be Vivaldi and one his biggest hits, “Gloria RV 589.” A religious piece sung entirely in Latin, Geraci said “it’s quite the masterwork performance.”

“It’s a beautiful work. I’d like (the audience) to enjoy it for its beauty. I do hope the audience gets the combination of harmonies that Vivaldi composed when he wrote this,” he said. “I hope they will walk away feeling uplifted; they don’t need to understand the words, just the beauty of the piece.”

The concert is $10 cash or check, $11 debit or credit card: children younger than 12 free. For information, see www.lakelandchoralsociety.org, Facebook: Lakeland Choral Society or call 863-450-8207.

Here's a look at some other things to do across Polk County:

KeySoundSoul

The six-piece ensemble will bring a dreamy mix of pop, rock, jazz, blues and soul to Lakeland’s Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., starting at 7 p.m. Friday, May 3. For information, see www.facebook.com/events/270189159498731/ or call 863-703-0472.

Lake Wales Live: The Gnarbuckles

Through a partnership between Lake Wales, Lake Wales Main Street and the Lake Wales Arts Council, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 3, downtown will bustle with live music, food trucks, local crafts and downtown restaurant dining during the city’s Park Avenue construction. The activities will center next to the Lake Wales Public Library, 290 Cypress Gardens Lane.

Second annual Watermelon Festival

If you’re looking to beat the heat with a bit of sweet, hit the Florida Children’s Museum’s Watermelon Festival. Held on Bonnet Springs Park’s Great Lawn, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland, the free event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and celebrates watermelon farming in Central Florida. The event is free or “a pay what you can day,” as all monetary donations support museum operations and programming. For information, see www.explorefcm.org/event/watermelon-festival or call 863-732-7000.

At the Polk

Here's what's coming up over the next week at the Polk Theatre, 121 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland. For more, see www.polktheatre.org/calendar or call 863-682-7553.

• Thursday, May 2: Movie – “Ace  Ventura: Pet Detective.” Rated PG-13. 6:30 pm. $5.

• Friday, May 3: Movie – “Citizen Kane.” Rated PG. 7:30 p.m. $5

• Saturday, May 4: A Star Wars original trilogy marathon. “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” Rated PG. 2 p.m., $5; “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.” Rated PG. 5 p.m., $5; “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.” Rated PG. 8 p.m., $5.

• Sunday, May 5: Movie – “Lawrence of Arabia.” Rated PG. 4 p.m., $5.

• Monday, May 6: Movie – "Rambo: First Blood." (1982) Rated R. $5.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland Choral Society sings masterwork 'Gloria': Things to do