The highlight of Simon Estes’ residency at Iowa State will be a concert featuring one of Johannes Brahms’ greatest works. “Ein deutsches Requiem” (A German Requiem) will be performed by the ISU Symphony Orchestra, the Iowa State Singers and the Oratorio Choir.

Estes and Janet Alcorn, ISU voice professor, will be the featured soloists.

“I love singing with [Estes],” Alcorn said. “My first performance in Iowa was with Simon and the Des Moines Symphony, so this is full circle for me. I am retiring, and this will be my last performance.

“‘A German Requiem’ was the first major orchestral/choral work by Brahms,” she said. “It helped prepare the way for his symphonies.”

Alcorn believes the audience can expect overwhelming beauty and an uplifting message when they listen to the concert.

“I have sung the requiem many times in my career,” Alcorn said. “One always re-studies a work, and the daily vocal preparation is the same for any performance — just like an athlete has to stay in condition.”

Director of orchestral activities Mark Laycock said Brahms’ “Requiem” is a unique piece of music.

“Johannes Brahms composed the German Requiem from 1863-67, shortly after the death of his mother,” Laycock said. “Unlike most Requiem settings, which use the Latin text of the Catholic mass for the dead, Brahms’s German Requiem is comprised of selected scripture verses in the composer’s own language. It was Brahms’s first major work and, at seventy minutes, remains his longest.”

Kristin Johannsen, sophomore, plays principal second violin in the symphony orchestra. Johannsen said that the orchestra has worked on the requiem music for about three to four weeks.

“This week we will have rehearsal nearly every night, putting the whole work together with all the singers and soloists,” she said. The orchestra also will be working with Simon Estes this week.

“I actually got to play in the all-state orchestra a few years ago when he was a guest performer,” Johannsen said. “It’s so amazing how one voice can match and blend in with an entire ensemble, even overpower it.”

Estes describes the requiem as inspirational and a reminder that dying is not the end.

“It’s one of the most beautiful pieces written,” Estes said. “It’s a reverent work.”

Robert Molison, director of choral activities, will be conducting the concert. This will mark his final major Stephens appearance before his retirement from Iowa State in May.

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Laycock will give a lecture before the performance at 6:45 p.m. offering insight to the requiem.

“Because of the number of musicians involved, this piece does not appear on concert programs very often,” Laycock said. “For many of us in the Music Department, this performance will be the highlight of the year.”