FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chorus pro Musica, led by Music Director Jeffrey Rink, presents its traditional holiday concert, “An English Christmas,” on Friday, December 22 at 8 pm at the beautiful and historic Old South Church in Copley Square, Boston. The concert includes carols and sacred music with a uniquely English expression of the spirit of Christmas.
The concert highlight is “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten, arguably the greatest composer of vocal music in the English language. Britten composed the work in 1942 during a wartime sea voyage home to Britain from America, setting to music several medieval texts from an anthology of English poems he had stumbled upon in a Halifax, Nova Scotia, bookshop. Premiered the following Christmas in Norwich, England, it has become a Yuletide favorite throughout the world. Chorus pro Musica will perform the work as originally written, for women's voices and harp.
The New England Conservatory Children's Chorus, led by Director Jean Meltaus, will again appear as special guests. The program also includes the traditional candlelight procession, a brass chorale, and opportunities for the audience to join in for a carol sing-along.
Tickets to the concerts are reserved seating and may be purchased for $20, $30 or $40. Discounts are available for seniors, students, WGBH members and parties of 6 or more. Season subscriptions are still available; subscribers save at least 10% off single-ticket prices and may buy extra discounted single-concert tickets. Tickets may be obtained and seats selected online at www.choruspromusica.org or by calling 800-658-4276 at any time. For wheelchair-accessible seats, call 617-267-7442.
Now in its 58th season, Chorus pro Musica is a distinguished, independent Boston-based chorus, recognized for versatility and excellence in performing traditional, adventurous and seldom-heard works. The Chorus was founded in 1949 by the late Alfred Nash Patterson and has built a superb reputation for professional-level musical standards and innovative programming. This year, Chorus pro Musica was one of 45 cultural, environmental, and human service organizations profiled as “examples of excellence” in the Catalogue for Philanthropy. Jeffrey Rink, now in his 17th year as Music Director, is the 2005 recipient of the Jacopo Peri Award of the New England Opera Club for outstanding contributions in the art of opera.
Other highlights of the 2006–2007 season include the St. John Passion of J.S. Bach, performed with a period instrument orchestra, on Friday, March 23, 2007 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul; and a concert opera performance of Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggiero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, featuring soloists Michael Hayes, Victoria Livengood, Jason Stearns, Maryann Mootos, Philip Candilis, and Joshua Benaim, on Sunday, June 3, 2007, at NEC's Jordan Hall.
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For more information, contact Peter Pulsifer, Concert Promotions Director, at 617-267-7442.
Chorus pro Musica online press kit at: http://www.choruspromusica.org/press.shtml
Posted November 18, 2006.