The Kirkland Choral Society will perform with the Philharmonia Northwest at the University of Washington’s Meany Hall in Seattle at 7:30 p.m. on March 28.

War & Peace features two of choral music’s paeans to peace in the midst of European turmoil. Haydn’s masterful Missa in Tempore Belli (“Mass in Time of War”) was composed in 1796, when Austria had suffered a string of defeats to the young Napoleon. Trumpet fanfares and the rumble of timpani are suggestive of the struggle that lay ahead. Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem (“Grant Us Peace”) was composed 140 years later, when Europe was again hurtling into war (later to become World War II). Vaughan Williams had already seen terrible bloodshed as a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War I; Dona Nobis Pacem was his passionate plea for peace, its text drawn primarily from powerfully evocative poetry written by Walt Whitman during another bloody conflict, the American Civil War. Though Dona Nobis Pacem did not alter the course of historical events, this epic work nobly stands today as a caution and reminder to us all.

Experience the soul-stirring power and passion of these two great works, brought to full realization by 95-plus voices and full orchestra.

KCS Artistic Director Dr. Glenn Gregg and Philharrmonia Northwest Music Director Dr. Julia Tai conduct.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors in advance and $25 (adults) and $18 (students and seniors) at the door.

For ticket information visit www.KirklandChoralSociety.org or call 425-296-0612.