November 4, 2010

WOSU's Christopher Purdy reviews MTSO's 'Divine Discs'

Methodist Theological School in Ohio welcomes WOSU Classical Music host Christopher Purdy for "Divine Discs: Christopher Purdy Reviews MTSO's Sacred Music Collection." The free event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 11 in Gault Hall on the MTSO campus, 3081 Columbus Pike in Delaware.

Purdy, host of such WOSU Classical Music programs as Musica Sacra, which features sacred choral music, will discuss recordings available in MTSO's Dickhaut Library. Among the selections he'll review are several dramatically different interpretations of Georg Friedrich Handel's Messiah.

"There are many different ways it can be performed," Purdy said of Messiah. "There's no one way to do this piece because Handel revised it in his lifetime depending on who was around to perform it. If he had a particularly good soprano, he would add more ornamentation. There are so many stories about this." Purdy will play sections of numerous recordings, including various interpretations of Messiah, as part of the program.

"Like a lot of classical music fans, I have enjoyed Christopher Purdy's pre-performance remarks prior to Columbus Symphony Orchestra concerts," said Paul Burnam, director of the library at MTSO. "I'm looking forward to hearing the same kind of colorful and informative commentary on our library's collection."

"Divine Discs" is presented in celebration of Theological Libraries Month and funded through a grant by the American Theological Library Association.

Located in Greater Columbus on U.S. Route 23, Methodist Theological School in Ohio is an ecumenical school, preparing transformational leaders for service to the church and the world. MTSO offers master's degrees in divinity, counseling ministries, theological studies and practical theology, as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree.

CONTACT:
Danny Russell, director of communication
drussell@mtso.edu, 740-362-3322