Legends and Traditions

Christ Church, Sanctuary 

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Benjamin Britten: Saint Nicolas, op. 42, 

Gerald Finzi: Magnificat op. 36

The generosity of Saint Nicolas and the many legends surrounding his heroic life will be revealed through Benjamin Britten’s cantata for large chorus, semichorus, soloists and orchestra of strings, complemented by piano and organ. GCS will share the spotlight with the Greenwich Academy Madrigal Singers, Choristers from Christ Church, Greenwich, and tenor Chance Jonas-O’Toole as Nicolas. In addition, the infinite love and kindness of Mary will be proclaimed in Gerald Finzi’s dramatic setting of the Magnificat in an arrangement for strings and organ, featuring Jonathan Vaughn at the console of the mighty new organ at Christ Church. To conclude, a garland of traditional carols for choirs and audience will highlight the blessings of the season – weaving a tapestry of images for all ages. Don’t miss this Greenwich tradition.

Carmina Burana

Greenwich High School, PAC

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Carl Orff: Carmina Burana 

The rhythmic charge of Carl Orff’s popular Carmina Burana is the central work on a concert that will feature the unusual interplay of voices, piano and percussion. Delight in the youthful energy of the Fairfield County Children’s Chorus and three stupendous soloists, soprano Brittany Hebel, countertenor Logan Tanner, and baritone Marcus DeLoach. Based on texts written by clergy and students in the 11th -13th centuries, Orff’s Secular Songs for Soloists and Choruses accompanied by Instruments and Magic Images captures the blissfulness of youth, love and drinking through simple, repeated melodies, and an innate sense of theatricality.

Coupled with the second movement of Bernstein’s ecstatic Chichester Psalms, anticipate a memorable afternoon…with a few additional surprises waiting for you on February 25. 

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Lamentation and Exaltation

Greenwich High School, PAC

Antonín Dvořák's Stabat Mater, op. 58

Antonín Dvořák was among many composers, including Palestrina, Mozart, Schubert, Rossini and Poulenc, to set the Stabat Mater to music, but his version stands out with its extraordinary spiritual intensity and emotional range, as well as a strongly symphonic quality. It is a huge work – for orchestra, chorus and soloists – but it is the expressive beauty of Dvorák’s setting that strikes the listener. The shifts of mood from grief and near despair to complete ecstasy run throughout the ten movements and culminate in the uplifting final movement. In the dying minutes of the Stabat Mater, the orchestra goes silent, and the choir enters with an amazing unaccompanied hymn of praise. The orchestra returns to accompany the choir for the final Amen culminating in one of the most powerful declarations in the history of music. Revel in the beauty of this work with soprano Serena Benedetti, mezzo-soprano Perri di Christina, tenor Omar Najmi and bass-baritone Edward Pleasant.