“If Ye Love Me” is a Valentine’s Day present from the Choral Scholars of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Naperville

While most of us view Valentine’s Day as a holiday full of romantic notes, flowers, candy and little red hearts, the Choral Scholars of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Naperville add a new note to this holiday. In their performance called If Ye Love Me that will take place on February 15th at 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Family Chapel of Ss. Peter and Paul Church, the theme of every song is not human, but God’s love.

The choir consists of twelve highly skilled singers and is considered to be a resident professional choir for the church. This ensemble is a newer ensemble with an impeccable blend and a reputation for their flexibility and responsiveness. It will be their final concert before departing to Rome for the canonization of Pope John Paul in April where they are going to perform. The chapel is a smaller and more intimate place than the church building, but it still has great acoustics.

 The Choral Scholars of Ss. Peter and Paul Church are also considered to be one of the finest church choirs in the Chicago Metropolitan area. Needless to say, it became possible because of the hard work and professionalism of Maestro Matthew Sprinkle.

This concert of liturgical a cappella music will present a broad repertoire and will feature composers that lived and created starting from the 15th century and up to our days. However, a big portion of this performance is going to be devoted to the American composers of the 21st century.  

This beautiful musical night will start with a song written by a well-known American conductor, professor, composer and organist Leo Nestor. The name of this song is The Call and its calm and inspirational melody will create the right mood for the night.

After that, the audience will have an opportunity to enjoy the music written by the popular French composer Maurice Durufle that will be followed by the song written by a pianist and composer Ola Gjeilo, who in 2001 moved to the United States from Norway to start his composition studies and career.

Also, the performance will present the music of a few English composers such as John Stainer, Thomas Tallis, Edward Bairstow, Philip Stopford and Ralph Vaughn Williams. The audience will also have a chance to enjoy the music of the Italian composer of the 19th century Luigi Cherubini as well as the music of the modern American composers Ralph Manuel, Gerald Near and Rene Clausen. All their music is about living our lives in love of God.

However, we still shouldn’t forget that Valentine’s Day is about human love, and that it helps people to keep their feeling alive and to value and respect each other. So, if that Saturday night on February 15th you are planning to invite your significant other to one of the restaurants in downtown Naperville, be sure that you make it to this performance that will conveniently start right after dinner time at 7:30 p.m.

Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church will be happy to welcome you and to present to you that beautiful performance. The tickets are $15 general admission, $8 for students and $60 prime preferred seating that includes front row seating and a wine and dessert post-concert reception.

Please call 630-718-2119, go online at www.sspeterandpaul.net or purchase tickets at 36 N. Ellsworth Street in Naperville to present to yourself and your sweetheart a beautiful night of music, peace and love. Love to each other, and Love to God.

Copyright Natalia Dagenhart. All rights reserved.