Upcoming Performances
Holiday Baroque
Bach-Circle: Christmas Oratorios and Contemporary Female Voices
Sat., December 28, 2024 at 4 pm Trinity Church, Lakeville, CT
Sun., December 29, 2024 at 4 pm Saint James Place, Great Barrington, MA
At the center of this program stands Johann Sebastian Bach’s fifth cantata of his Christmas Oratorio “Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen“ (Let honor be sung to you, O God). This cantata is about the journey of the wise men and the symbolism of light winning over darkness. An important composer in Bach’s circle was his mentor Dietrich Buxtehude, the renowned North German organist and cantor. His New Year’s, and Johann Schelle’s Advent cantatas, Johann Rosenmüller’s Magnificat, and Philipp Erlebach’s Christmas cantata are followed by a work of the later Jeremias du Grain, a student of Bach’s close friend Georg Philipp Telemann. Several of these festive cantatas are scored for orchestra with trumpets, which symbolized royalty and Christ’s status as the “King of Kings.” In contrast to this stand intimate unaccompanied choral works by the award-winning contemporary female North American composers Emily Drum, MaryAnne Muglia, and Christine Donkin.
The performers are Crescendo Chorus of forty singers, Paulina Francisco, soprano, Nicholas Tamagna, countertenor, Gene Stenger, tenor, Douglas Williams, bass-baritone, and Crescendo Period Instrument Orchestra, led by Christine Gevert.
Support for these concerts has been provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature, and NBT Bank. We also thank WMNR Fine Arts Radio for their ongoing support.
Crescendo At Home
Virtual Concerts On-Demand NOW
Latest recordings:
Premieres: November 7, 2024 at 2pm
Recorded: September 14, 2024
Hommage à Wanda Landowska – Kenneth Weiss
Recorded: March 24, 2024
Carissimi – Jephte and Missa L’Homme armé
Recorded: May 5, 2024
Gilbert & Sullivan: Trial By Jury and more…
Now you can watch Crescendo’s concerts at home at any time with our virtual concert portal – Crescendo at Home!
We want to keep choral and baroque music experiences alive not only during the pandemic, but also for your pleasure, comfort and for anyone who is not able to attend concerts in person.
Recorded in high quality audio by former Carnegie Hall engineer Leszek Wojcik, and filmed in high definition by Charlette Media Productions, we offer you an experience that is similar to being there in person. It even brings you closer to the performers than you ever would in a live concert.
Watch, and share with your family and friends! Subscribe to our e-Newsletter for news on upcoming Crescendo at Home programming.
SINGERS based in the Berkshires are invited to join Crescendo’s Ensembles: Crescendo Chorus, Crescendo Vocal Ensemble, Crescendo Young Artists Program. We have openings for both amateur and paid professional positions in all voice groups. A limited number of scholarships are available. We regularly perform in Lakeville, CT and Great Barrington, MA. Learn more, and schedule and audition by writing to: crescendo@crescendomusic.org
These concerts have been made possible in part with support from CT Humanities (CTH), with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature.