A Peaceful Tune

Peace and love were on the musical menu when the 74-year-old Santa Barbara Choral Society performed a Pax + Amare concert at the First Presbyterian Church under veteran conductor JoAnne Wasserman. Latvian baritone soloist Valdis Jansons, a voice coach at UCSB, sang in both pieces – French composer Maurice Duruflé’s 1947 “Requiem” and Ralph Vaughan William’ Five Mystical Songs, with David Potter on organ. An anthem honoring the current troubles in Ukraine concluded the entertaining program. Afterwards, a reception was held for supporters including Santa Barbara Symphony maestro Nir Kabaretti, Marilyn Gilbert, Barbara Burger, Todd Aldrich, Marylove Thralls, Brooks and Kate Firestone, and Mary Dan Eades.