[ classical ]
The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is one of Philadelphia’s most loved structures. The looming marble-and-granite space should, in theory, be a terrible place to hear music, with the sound bouncing around everywhere. But composer Robert Moran, working with the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, makes this aural lemon into lemonade. The Basilica actually has a seven-second reverb, and Moran works this into the score of Angele Dei. It is a big work, with two choirs spaced at opposite ends of the sanctuary, plus an orchestra and, of course, the pipe organ. The actual performance requires multiple conductors. The entire undertaking is fraught with risk, but if it works, it should be glorious. Also on the bill: more music from Moran, including his acclaimed Trinity Requiem written to commemorate the victims of the Sept. 11 attack, and the Bruckner Mass No. 2 in E minor.
Sun., Oct. 21, 3 p.m., $28, Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 1723 Race St., 215-735-9922, mcchorus.org.
