The Midcoast Symphony Orchestra will perform Giuseppe Verdi’s monumental “Requiem Mass” (“Messa da Requiem”) under the direction of Rohan Smith in collaboration with the Oratorio Chorale and Vox Nova Chamber Choir. Concerts take place Saturday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Franco Center in Lewiston, and Sunday, May 15, at 2:30 p.m. at Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.

Renowned soloists will join 150 Maine musicians on stage in Topsham and Lewiston in a work rarely performed outside major metropolitan areas. The Verdi 'Requiem' was last offered in Maine by the Bangor Symphony Orchestra in 2003.

Soloists are soprano Rachele Schmiege, who has been praised for her “incredibly crystalline voice” and “absolutely thrilling portrayals;” alto Rebecca Ringle made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Rosswisse in “Die Walküre” and has appeared with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Florida, and others.

Tenor Kevin Ray has preformed opera Houston as well as with Chautauqua Opera and Wolf Trap Opera, among others. Norwegian-American bass Gustav Andreassen’s prolific opera career includes successes at leading opera houses in the U.S., Europe, and Canada.

Conductor and violinist Rohan Smith is in his 13th season as music director of the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra. He has led the MSO to critical acclaim in performances of a wide range of works from the Classical era through major works of the twentieth century.

As an orchestral violinist based in New York, Smith performed regularly with the American Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the American Composers Orchestra, the New Orchestra of Westchester, and on Broadway. He was privileged to perform with great artists including Jessye Norman, Itzhak Perlman, Thomas Hampson, Marilyn Horne, Brigitte Fassbaender, Pinchas Zuckerman, Midori, Kathleen Battle and John Browning.

Now in its fifth decade, the Oratorio Chorale is a nonprofit organization of about 100 auditioned singers under the professional direction of Emily Isaacson.

Concerts take place Saturday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Franco Center in Lewiston, and Sunday, May 15, at 2:30 p.m. at Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.

Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended. Free student tickets must be obtained in advance. Tickets are $20 for adults and free for students, including college students with ID.

All tickets, including those for students, can be purchased online: www.MidcoastSymphony.org, by calling 207-846-5378, through the Oratorio Chorale via Brown Paper Tickets: brownpapertickets.com/profile/1143574, or by phone at 1-800-838-3006. Tickets are also available at Gulf of Maine Books in Brunswick; Now You’re Cooking in Bath.