Join our Choral Repertoire Sessions this Summer!
This summer we offer FIVE WEEKS OF CHORAL REPERTOIRE SESSIONS in Great Barrington, MA and Lakeville CT, led by Crescendo‘s founding artistic director Christine Gevert.
Sing together in a small group, and learn more about the music and its background as we explore works from different eras and styles. Three groups with different levels of experience will be offered.
Do you want to find out more about the “behind the scenes” of choral singing? Sit in on one or more sessions – auditors are welcomed.
The repertoire ranges from Irish and English Folk Music, Broadway Showtunes, Latin American Music, Renaissance Motets by Vicente Lusitano, Baroque Opera Choruses by Monteverdi, Purcell and Handel to lesser performed choral works by J.S. Bach.
The sessions start mid July in both locations. Afternoon and evening times are offered.
Theatrical Viewing
Carissimi – Jephte and Missa L’Homme armé
Saturday, September 7, at 3 pm
With Q&A after the showing.
The Moviehouse, 48 Main St., Millerton, NY
Tickets and more information: https://www.
Recorded: March 24, 2024 @ 4:00 PM
Most of you, our audience members, love the great oratorios, passions and cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach, and Handel.
These works would not exist without Carissimi, who lived almost a century before them! The Italian 17th century composer established the oratorio to bypass the prohibition of public entertainment, which included opera performances, during the season of Lent. Carissimi’s Jephte is structured like the ancient Greek tragedy: a short prologue introduces the drama, followed by dialogues of the main characters as the action unfolds, interspersed with more narration, explaining the background of the story, and responses and reactions from the chorus, who also concludes the the story. The role of the narrator is taken on by different voices: a solo alto, bass and then soprano, and also duets, trios and a quartet. The two characters are Jephte, a tenor, and his daughter, Filia, a soprano. Her female companions speak as a soprano duet, echoed by the complete chorus. Like most early vocal works, there are no instrumental parts, except the bass, the bass continuo. This accompaniment was meant to be improvised to support and enhance the drama. In our version, the seven instruments alternate to emphasize the different situations in the drama: the dulcian and the percussive strumming of the theorbo create the call to battle; Jephte is accompanied by the organ and theorbo, while Filia is accompanied by the harp. The instrumental prelude and interludes were not originally composed, nor suggested by Carissimi. It is my hope that they will enhance the story, and create a few moments of space, to let the emotions evoked by Carissimi’s oratorio unfold even more.
Upcoming Performance: Hommage a Wanda Landowska – Kenneth Weiss, Harpsichord
“A Treasury of Harpsichord Music”
Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 6:00 PM.
United Methodist Church, Lakeville, CT
A harpsichord solo recital performed by Kenneth Weiss, professor at the Paris Conservatoire, France in honor of the legendary harpsichord virtuoso and scholar Wanda Landowska. Weiss plays works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Jacques Champion de Chambonnieres, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Francois Couperin, Henry Purcell, George Frederick Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The selection is the recreation of the landmark 1957 “A Treasury of Harpsichord Music” recording of Wanda Landowska.
With special support by Leszek Wojcik.
Support for the concerts has been provided to Crescendo also by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature, and NBT Bank.
Crescendo At Home
Virtual Concerts On-Demand NOW
Latest recordings:
Recorded: May 5, 2024
Gilbert & Sullivan: Trial By Jury and more…
Recorded: March 2, 2024
Bach & Paganini – Solo Violin Music
Recorded: February 3, 2024
Optime Pastor – Early Polyphony for low voices from Ockeghem to Palestrina
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.
