Renowned mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton performs with Atlanta Master Chorale this weekend

Mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton performs with the Atlanta Master Chorale on Jan. 21 and 22. (Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus)

“Where Music Touches Spirit,” the motto of the Atlanta Master Chorale, captures the reflective mood of their latest presentation of classical choral music. With the world-renowned mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton as guest soloist, the ensemble will give two concerts at Dunwoody United Methodist Church this weekend. Barton and Atlanta Master Chorale artistic director Dr. Eric Nelson joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Zoom to give a preview of the shows.

With a program composed primarily of works from the first half of the 20th century, the Chorale’s concert will highlight the “Requiem” by Maurice Duruflé, “one of the most beautiful pieces ever written,” according to Nelson. “One of the movements of the ‘Requiem’ is composed for a mezzo-soprano soloist,” he said. “Of course, if you can imagine the way that this might be sung by the greatest mezzo that there is, you would imagine that maybe Jamie Barton would be singing it.”

With the enthusiastic participation of their featured soloist and a lovingly curated repertoire, the concert still faced setbacks before its long-awaited staging. “This concert was supposed to take place during last season, which of course for all of us around the world was canceled because of the pandemic,” said Nelson.