Ukraine and Mozart, an unlikely coupling indeed, paired to light up Davies Hall Aug. 18 in a gratifying choral-orchestral concert under Robert Geary.

Geary’s S.F. Choral Society linked with Ukrainian composer Alexander Shchetynsky, 63, from afar unveiling his Requiem (1991-2004), a serene lyrical outpouring with string orchestra. However somber a work, the composer establishes a mellifluous flow in his work with Latin text, closer to the spirit of Brahms’ Requiem. Among his original touches was the “Lacrimosa,” with choral sound segments seemingly coming in from various directions.

The shocker in the 25-minute piece in six traditional movements is the contrasting “Dies Irae” (Day of Wrath), a powerful outburst propelled by the SFCS’ strong soprano section.

The latter work paired with Mozart’s eternal Requiem, one of the great 18^th-century creations even though left incomplete. Mozart wrote his final note in the “Lacrimosa,” penned right after the interval of the falling sixth in the chorus—an unusual leap, surpassed by the falling seventh of the earlier Kyrie, perhaps anticipating his own premature departure. Though an amateur group like most of our choruses, this ensemble of some 130 carried off the performance, even if slighting the consonants the way that even our leading professional chorus consistently does. (Yes, folks, Latin like most European languages needs audible consonants even more than English. )

The high point of the performance was in the closely linked vocal quartet of contrasting voice types, skillfully coached by Geary. Who could resist their “Benedictus,” an evocative passage partly attributable to the collaborative composer (and Mozart pupil), Franz Suessmayr?

The concert filling only about a half of Davies Hall was in part a fund-raising event for the Ukraine’s Kharkiv National University of the Arts, damaged by rockets during the recent wartime bombings, located where Shchetynsky was born and currently teaches. The SF Choral Society had been in touch with the composer via Zoom in preparing the rare concert…The Mozart soloists’ quartet was, from the top, Emily Sinclair, Shauna Fallihee, Michael Jankosky and Eugene Brancoveanu, paired with the SFCS’ Summer Festival Chorus.

CHORAL-ORCHESTRAL REQUIEMS by Shchetynsky and Mozart, performed by forces of the S.F. Choral Society under Artistic Director Robert Geary, Davies Hall, San Francisco, Aug. 18. For SFCS info: www.SFChoral.org.

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