Our Upcoming 2019-2020 Season!
Saturday, November 16, 2019 – 8:00 PM
From Psalm to Mass: Bridging Traditions
Orchestra and soloists
Congregation B’Nai Shalom, Westborough, MA
Lord Nelson Mass (Mass in Time of Distress) – F. J. Haydn
Chichester Psalms – Leonard Bernstein
Both works on this program were born in times of tumult. Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass,” composed during the Napoleonic Wars, was originally named Missa in Angustiis or “Mass in time of Distress.” Although written in d minor, the work ends in D major with celebratory trumpets, foreshadowing Nelson’s victories. Bernstein composed Chichester Psalms shortly after the assassination of President Kennedy and the murder of Bernstein’s close friend Marc Blitzstein. By combining Jewish and Christian choral traditions, Bernstein was implicitly issuing a plea for peace in Israel during a turbulent time in the young country’s history.
December 15, 2019 – 3:30 PM
Messiah Sing
First Church in Marlborough, Congregational
AVM’s Messiah Sing has become a holiday tradition eagerly anticipated throughout the region. It is an opportunity to hear superb soloists perform and for all to participate in singing the choruses of the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah.
Sunday, March 15, 2020 3:30 PM
We Are Not Alone – Songs of Unity
R.R. Jay Performing Arts Center, Saint John’s High School, Shrewsbury, MA
Lux: The Dawn – Dan Forrest
We Exist – Oliver Caplan
Unity in Diversity (AVM Commission) – Cynthia Wong
Wong has composed a song cycle with texts by diverse writers — William Wordsworth, Sara Teasdale, and Rabindranath Tagore — touching on themes which resonate today: nature and destruction, love and unity. This premiere performance of Unity in Diversity was commissioned by AVM in honor of its 40th anniversary.
LUX: The Dawn from on High by Forrest explores ancient liturgical chant, Scripture, and modern secular love poetry. The movements trace a journey through time, both from ancient prophecy to the present, and from dawn’s emerging light to its dimming at day’s end.
We Exist, by Caplan with lyrics by Naseem Rakha responds to the 2017 violence in Charlottesville, Virginia with a call to action, celebrating the strength of diversity and honoring all races, all faiths, and all genders.
Saturday, May 16, 2020 – 8:00 PM
Glories of France
Pilgrim Church, Southborough, MA
Requiem in d minor- Gabriel Fauré
Gloria- Francis Poulenc
This concert pairs two of France’s most acclaimed choral composers. Fauré’s Requiem is a sublime statement of faith with some of the most beautiful melodies he ever composed, and it provides comfort and consolation. By contrast, Poulenc’s Gloria is an exuberant declaration of praise with lively rhythms, beautiful melodies, and an overall eclectic musical style.
and the full concert:
Recent Concert Recordings Now Available
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Listen to samples and purchase our concert recordings on the Buy Our Music page.
Israel in Egypt recording now available!