Over the past few seasons, we have successfully explored a diverse range of crossover programs, all the while maintaining a strong commitment to the rich history of choral music.
We have been standing strongly by our mission: to perform new music that has not been done before in Lebanon.

Scored for Strings Orchestra and choir, the program features a contrast between the jubilant, celebratory tone of Handel’s Dixit Dominus and the sorrowful, introspective nature of MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross, creating a rich dialogue between Baroque and Contemporary music within the concert setting. While Dixit Dominus is filled with intricate counterpoints and rhythmic vitality, typical of the Baroque style, Seven Last Words from the Cross, on the other hand, adopts a contemporary approach, often utilizing sparse textures and minimalist techniques. MacMillan’s work is characterized by a more fluid structure, allowing for a meditative quality that contrasts with Handel’s defined sections. The harmonic language can be more complex and atonal, adding to the sense of modern introspection. Together, they illuminate the spectrum of human experience in the realm of spirituality—from exuberance to profound grief, offering audiences a comprehensive exploration of faith and emotion.

Join the USJ Choir and String Ensemble, with soloists Yara Kasti, Begoña Gómez, Charles Eid and Cesar Naassy, under the baton of Yasmina Sabbah, on Thursday, June 5, at 8:30 PM at the St. Joseph Church, Monnot. Admission is free, with tickets reserved through Virgin Ticketing BoxOffice.

Date and Time: Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 8:30 PM
Location: St. Joseph Church, Monnot
Admission is free, with tickets reserved through Virgin Ticketing BoxOffice.

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