The songs of Puccini, Verdi and Gilbert and Sullivan will delight audiences on September 12 when the Rackham Symphony Choir of Detroit performs “An Evening of Theatre Favorites” as part of the 2008 Lexington Bach and Friends Festival.

The concert is part of the four-day Lexington Bach and Friends Festival produced by the Lexington Arts Council. It takes place at St. Denis Catholic Church, 5366 Main Street in Lexington at 7 PM, Friday, September 12, 2008.

Tickets are $20 each and are available by sending a check made out to the Lexington Arts Council and mailing to: P.O. Box 434 Lexington , Michigan 48450 , marked "Bach Festival".

Designed for the Festival, “An Evening of Theatre Favorites” features some of the most beloved arias from operas by Mozart, Puccini and Verdi as well as the beguiling Broadway tunes of Gilbert and Sullivan. Accompanied by the Festival Orchestra, the September 12 concert will feature nearly 70 voices of the Rackham Choir in selections including The Marriage of Figaro, The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance and others. The concert is conducted by RSC’s Artistic and Music Director, Suzanne Mallare Acton.

Since 1949, Rackham Symphony Choir has provided both classical and contemporary choral masterpieces of the highest artistic quality to appreciative audiences throughout Southeast Michigan . Under the visionary leadership of critically acclaimed conductor Suzanne Mallare Acton, the choir has expanded its rich tradition of musical performance. Acton also serves as Chorus Master and Director of the Children’s Choir for the Michigan Opera Theatre.

Noteworthy concerts of late include the choir’s signature piece, Too Hot To Handel performed annually since 2001. Other performances include The Holocaust Cantata, a collection of songs and readings taken from concentration camp prisoners and Richard Einhorn’s multi-media piece Voices of Light. In addition, Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man- A Concert for Peace was performed with an original, award-winning film commissioned by the choir.

Additional information about the Lexington Bach Festival is available at www.lexarts.com.