2017–2018 Choral Season Highlights

As of late September, about 435 performances are listed on the Choral Arts New England events calendar for September 2017 through June 2018. Here are just a few season highlights. See the the online calendar for the complete and up-to-date set of events.

Premieres and choral commissions (by composer)

Major or especially interesting works

Old Favorites

Special programs (a few of many)—Chronological.

  • Vermont Sings For Peace. Tenth annual concert joining area choruses in song to raise money for social justice. Counterpoint [VT], 9/23/17.
  • Centennial Celebration of Leonard Bernstein. Leonard Bernstein: Symphony No. 1 “Jeremiah”; Mason Bates: Book of Matthew; Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man. ChoralArt [ME], 10/22/17.
  • Stephen Paulus: The day is done; Johannes Brahms: Warum ist das Licht gegeben, Op. 74; Henry Purcell: O Lord our Governor, Z. 141; Ēriks Ešenvalds: Stars; Jonathan Dove: Seek him that maketh the seven stars; C. Hubert H. Parry: Blest pair of sirens; James Whitbourn: Luminosity. Boston Cecilia [MA], 10/22/17.
  • Chanticleer—special appearance, part of the Kent Hall Masters Series. Chorus of Westerly [RI], 10/28/17.
  • All Hallow's Eve. A dramatic evening of music for Halloween (with storyteller). Skylark Vocal Ensemble [MA], 10/28/17, 10/29/17, 10/30/17, 11/1/17,
  • Through Truth We Triumph: Music by Bach, Telemann, Schütz, Luther and others on the Reformation’s 500th Anniversary. With natural trumpet and Baroque instruments. Crescendo [MA,CT], 10/28/17, 10/29/17.
  • Bassoon and Chorus. Music by Paul Hindemith, Egil Hovland, Edvard Grieg. Master Singers of Lexington [MA], 10/29/17.
  • Francis Poulenc: Mass in G; works by Maurice Duruflé and Olivier Messiaen and organ music by Jean Langlais. Boston Choral Ensemble [MA], 11/4/17.
  • Edward Elgar: The Music Makers; Hubert Parry: I Was Glad; Jonathan Dove: Psalms for Leo. Chorus of Westerly [RI], 11/11/17, 11/12/17.
  • Guillaume de Machaut: Messe de Nostre Dame; Patricia Van Ness: Birds of the Psalms. Cappella Clausura [MA], 11/18/17, 11/19/17.
  • Choral Music from the Spanish-Speaking World by Ernani Aguiar, Javier Busto, Lalo Schifrin, Tomás de la Victoria, Pablo Casals, Maria Guinand, and Ariel Ramirez. Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus [MA], 11/19/17.
  • Winter Fantasy. Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols; Morten Lauridsen: Mid-Winter Songs; Edward Elgar: The Snow. Harvard Pro Musica [MA], 12/9/17.
  • A Bach Christmas. Handel and Haydn Society [MA], 12/14/17, 12/17/17.
  • Martin Luther King in This Time: A Concert of Spirituals. With the Baltimore Urban Choral Arts Society. Cantilena Chamber Choir [MA], 1/14/18.
  • Hugo Distler: Totentanz, Op. 12; Heinrich Schütz: Musikalische Exequien (Funeral music), Op. 7; with music by Anton Heiller and Hans Werner Henze juxtaposing death and dance. Boston Choral Ensemble [MA], 3/3/18.
  • Josquin des Prez: Mass L’Homme Armeé; Leonhard Lechner: The Song of Solomon. With organ, dramatic recitation and dancers. Crescendo [MA,CT], 3/16/18, 3/18/18.
  • Composers of the Baltic Nations, including Veljo Tormis (Estonia), Peter Vasks (Latvia), Jonas Govėdas (Lithuania), and others. Cantata Singers [MA], 4/6/18.
  • Elena Ruehr: Eve; Arvo Pärt: Adam’s Lament. Cappella Clausura [MA], 4/28/18, 4/29/18.
  • Lux Aeterna: Music by Maurice Duruflé, Jonathan Dove, Morten Lauridsen, Jocelyn Hagen, Matthew Culloton, and Shawn Kirchner. Connecticut Chamber Choir [CT], 5/6/18.
  • Francis Poulenc: Gloria; Igor Stravinksy: Symphony of Psalms; Ralph Vaughan Williams: Towards the Unknown Region (text by Walt Whitman). Chorus North Shore Honors Youth Choir [MA], 6/2/18.
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen: Dona nobis Pacem; Geoffrey Gibbs: Until Forever Ends; R. Vaughn Williams: Dona nobis Pacem. Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra [RI], 6/2/18.

Premium or “special” Messiahs (alphabetical)

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Effective date: 
Friday, September 1, 2017 to Saturday, September 1, 2018