Sacred Serenity & Bombastic Brilliance
Chorale with orchestra
David Morales, Director
Saturday, April 5, 2025 • 7:30 pm
Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
General: $35 | Senior: $30 | Student: $10
Please do NOT bring children 5 years or younger.
The Chorale, accompanied by full orchestra, will perform two contrasting 20th century works: Maurice Duruflé’s lush and serene setting of the Requiem and William Walton’s exceedingly thrilling Belshazzar’s Feast. Both works illustrate Hope & Resilience in challenging times coupled with a path forward.
Andrew Pardini, Baritone
Extolled by The Baltimore Sun for his “robust work” and DC Metro Theater Arts for “a heart-stopping, high voltage bass-baritone voice,” Andrew Thomas Pardini is a Tenured Member of the Regular Chorus with San Francisco Opera. His past roles include Flora’s Servant/La Traviata, The Imperial Commissioner/Madame Butterfly and Reporter/The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. Pardini made his company and European debuts at Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra as part of its 2018-2019 Season. He holds a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from the University of Maryland – Maryland Opera Studio, under the tutelage of Dominic Cossa and François Loup, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Southern California – Thornton School of Music, studying with Gary Glaze.
Priding himself as a champion of contemporary works, he relishes the opportunity to be a part of the creative and developmental process, including originating roles in Meier’s The Last Act of Revolution and Mayer’s America Tropical. Pardini won Second Place in the 2015 Michael Ballam Concorso Lirico International Vocal Competition. For more information, please visit www.andrewthomaspardini.com.
Megan Berti, Mezzo-Soprano
Mezzo-soprano Megan Berti sings "with flawless technique, perfect diction, absolute pitch and fearless attack" (Houston Press). This spring, she is thrilled to return to Cantare to perform Duruflé’s Requiem after making her directorial debut with HOPERA in The Producer, based on Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor. Praised for her "warm and plush" tone and coloratura that "sparkles" (South Florida Classical Review), Megan has performed with Houston Grand Opera, Opera in the Heights, Miami Lyric Opera, Painted Sky Opera, Musiqa, HOPERA, and BCCO. Opera roles include Carmen (Bizet), Angelina (Rossini), Dinah (Bernstein), Prince Orlovsky (J. Strauss), Hänsel (Humperdinck), Flora (Verdi), Rosina (Rossini), Isabella (Rossini), Concepción (Ravel), Nicklausse (Offenbach), Maddalena (Verdi), Amelia (Hagen), Magali (Catán), and Sesto (Mozart). Megan has sung Handel’s Messiah, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Verdi’s Requiem, Bach’s Mass in B minor and St John Passion, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor and Requiem, Dvořák’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Missa solemnis and 9th Symphony, Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle, and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Ms Berti is the Artistic Director and Founder of HOPERA in Houston. You can learn more at www.MeganBerti.com.
