After the lights dim on the Bob Carr stage this weekend, 113 students in the UCF Choir will sing one of the most challenging and beloved symphonies ever composed.

For the past month, students have prepared for the Orlando Philharmonic 麻豆精品 S檚 opening night concert on Saturday, Sept. 25. The UCF Choir will perform Gustav Mahler 麻豆精品 S檚 symphony No. 2, 麻豆精品 S淩esurrection, 麻豆精品 S alongside the Orlando Philharmonic Opera Chorus and accompanied by the largest orchestra ever assembled by the Orlando Philharmonic.

The concert, “,” begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston St., in downtown Orlando.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a once in a lifetime chance, 麻豆精品 S says Clair Warrick, a student in the UCF Choir. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 such a big piece and is not performed very often because it 麻豆精品 S檚 so challenging. 麻豆精品 S

“Resurrection” is written for an orchestra, a mixed choir, two soloists (soprano and contralto), an organ and an offstage ensemble of brass and percussion.

After weeks of intense rehearsals, Friday will be the first time that the UCF students will sing the piece with the Opera Chorus. The collaboration 麻豆精品 S渄emands careful preparation, musically sensitive singing and utmost professionalism, 麻豆精品 S said David Brunner, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 director of choral activities.

The UCF Choir has a long history of collaborations with the Orlando Philharmonic performing a variety of pieces, including Beethoven 麻豆精品 S檚 Ninth Symphony and Aaron Copland 麻豆精品 S檚 麻豆精品 S淥ld American Songs. 麻豆精品 S But this will be its first time performing such a monumental symphony.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a gorgeous piece, deep and dark, very different from our past performances, 麻豆精品 S Warrick said.

Traveling from London to New York, the UCF Choir has performed with the world-renowned Russian State Symphony and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The group sang alongside Vanessa Williams at the Daytona 500 and graced Carnegie Hall with Brunner 麻豆精品 S檚 麻豆精品 S淥de to the Present and Future Days. 麻豆精品 S

But few performances will compare to this year 麻豆精品 S檚 opening night concert, where 150 voices will come together to breathe life into the magnanimous 麻豆精品 S淩esurrection. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淭he first words that come to mind when one thinks of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony are ‘massive’ and ‘overwhelming,’ and when you’re in the Bob Carr, you will see that the layout itself speaks of the power of the piece,” said Christopher Wilkins, music director for the Orlando Philharmonic.

Single tickets to 麻豆精品 S淩esurrection Symphony 麻豆精品 S are $14.75, $29, $39, $52 and $70. To purchase tickets, call the Philharmonic 麻豆精品 S檚 box office at 407-770-0071 or visit the Philharmonic 麻豆精品 S檚 website at .