The Rockbridge Choral Society has decided to postpone the performance planned for Sunday, Feb. 8, by the Rockbridge Chamber Singers. The program, by the singers with chamber orchestra and soloists, is entitled “Magnificence” and features festive works by J.S. Bach: the well-known “Magnificat” and two exuberant cantatas.
“The prolonged cold and winter storms have forced us to make this difficult decision,” said William Mc-Corkle, artistic director of the Rockbridge Chorus and Chamber Singers. “The weather has not only disrupted our work of preparation, but continues to threaten final rehearsals and the travel to Lexington of a number of outstanding guest musicians.”
Equally important for the Choral Society is the potential impediment which weather conditions would pose to audience attendance, he said.
As part of a celebratory RCS season recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Rockbridge Chorus and the 25th anniversary of the Rockbridge Youth Chorale, the Bach program was conceived to call attention to the organization’s 25 years of empowerment to present major works from the choral repertoire, often involving orchestral forces and professional soloists.
Efforts are underway to reschedule the performance. “This exciting program will not be lost,” said McCorkle.
While the search for a new date will involve navigating the busy concert schedule of the Lexington area, and juggling the schedules of choral participants and of guest musicians coming from as far away as Washington, Winchester, and Blacksburg, the RCS and the Rockbridge Chamber Singers are resolute in their intention to present this program, a signature event of the anniversary season, he said.
This is not the first time the RCS has faced rescheduling a concert. A downtown power outage at the moment of the starting baton prevented a Rockbridge Chorus performance of works by Britten and Duruflé in April 2024. A well-managed regimen of periodic rehearsals enabled the chorus to maintain, and to continue polishing, the program until its eventual realization that September, he siad.
“We are searching diligently for a new performance date [for the Bach program],” said McCorkle. “We will use the additional time to raise the level of our artistry to new heights, bringing even greater joy to the performance. The anticipation is palpable.”
The RCS will, of course, announce the new performance date as soon as it is set. Any tickets already purchased at the Choral Society’s website (rcs.org) will remain valid for the rescheduled event.
