Upcoming Performances

Holiday Baroque

Sat., December 28, 2024 at 4 pm
Trinity Church
Lakeville, CT 06039

Sun., December 29, 2024 at 4 pm
Saint James Place,
Great Barrington, MA 01230

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.

For immediate release.
Contact: Christine Gevert – 860.318.1812 christine@crescendomusic.org
Lakeville, CT

Crescendo presents:
Bach-Circle: Christmas Oratorios and Contemporary Female Voices
Bringing Heaven to Earth

Crescendo, the award-winning music organization based in Lakeville, CT, presents two concerts with festive Baroque holiday music for chorus, soloists, and orchestra to conclude the year on December 28 and 29. Crescendo Chorus of thirty singers is joined by soprano Paulina Francisco (Canada), winner of the 11th edition of Les Jardin des Voix with Les Arts Florissants; countertenor Nicholas Tamagna (Germany), “his meteoric rise in recent years has made him one of the world’s most fascinating alto voices” (Operabase); tenor Gene Stenger (Connecticut), hailed as an “impressive tenor” (The New York Times) who sings with “sweet vibrancy” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer) and creates “the most lasting moments” (Virginia Gazette) of the performance; bass-baritone Douglas Williams (Massachusetts), who has appeared as a soloist with some of the great orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Houston Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and St. Louis Symphony; and Crescendo Period Instrument Orchestra with musicians from New York City and Boston. The performances are led by Crescendo’s founding artistic director, Christine Gevert.

Christmas cantatas are intended to bring comfort, joy, and a sense of wonder to listeners. They celebrate the true essence of Christmas—unity, love, and hope—through the power of music. Performed at religious and secular occasions, cantatas originated in Italy in the 17th century as intimate works for solo voices and minimal instrumental accompaniment. They quickly spread to other European countries and developed into large dramatic works with multiple soloists, chorus, and orchestra. A culmination of this genre is undoubtedly Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, part of which stands at the center of this program. Cantatas by his predecessors and contemporaries showcase the festive themes of Advent, Christmas, and the New Year in different ways.

Some elements of the Christmas story featured in these cantatas touch upon the greatest quests of our humanity. The central one is the birth of God’s own son, a paradox of divine laws and earthly reality becoming one. Others are the voice of the angels as the messengers of God, and with them the overlapping of the natural and supernatural worlds; the character of Mary, embodying the purity of the human spirit, a female who trusts in God; the shepherds who “get” the divine message, and through their response to it elevate themselves beyond the limitations of their social status; and the wise men, strangers who come from afar to witness and express their reverence to the newborn savior, acknowledging the manifestation of God to the world. These characters and elements are all expressed through the music in this program, being equally at the center of the baroque and contemporary works.

Crescendo’s founding artistic director talks about Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio: “It is a set of six cantatas that tell the story of Christ’s birth, the annunciation to and adoration by the shepherds, the circumcision and naming of Jesus, the journey, and the visit of the wise men. The texts are based on different Gospel readings. It may seem shocking that most of Bach’s music was originally ‘secular’—cantatas written by him in praise of royalty or notable local figures, performed outside the church. In modern words this means recycling music. It was common practice in Baroque times, and Bach was an expert at this ‘parody technique.’ A sensual love duet becomes a symbol for the love between the human soul and God, the yearning of a lover for his beloved is transformed into the longing for Christ.”

This program includes Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen“ (Let honor be sung to you, O God), the fifth cantata of his Christmas Oratorio. 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 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 concerts will take place on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 4:00 pm at Trinity Church, 484 Lime Rock Rd., Lakeville, CT, and on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 4:00 pm at Saint James Place, 352 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA. Tickets are available online at www.crescendomusic.org, or on a first come, first served basis at the door, 45 minutes prior to the concert.

Support for the concerts has been provided to Crescendo by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature. We also thank NBT Bank and WMNR Fine Arts Radio for their support.

###

Early Spring

Sat., March 1, 2025 at 4 pm
Trinity Church
Lakeville, CT 06039

Sun., March 2, 2025 at 4 pm
Saint James Place,
Great Barrington, MA 01230

Revolutionary Renaissance

Sat., March 1, 2025 at 4 pm   Trinity Church, Lakeville, CT
Sun., March 2, 2025 at 4 pm   Saint James Place, Great Barrington, MA

This program features motets by  the Portuguese composer Vicente Lusitano, one of the earliest known mixed-race composers of African descent, whose works were published in his lifetime. Lusitano’s style resembles Josquin des Prez’, and is highly complex and of extrordinary beauty.

We still know very little about female composers of those times, as it was stigmatised for women to perform in public, or be known as composers. We present sacred and secular vocal and instrumental works by Maddalena Casulana (Madrigali 1570), Raffaella Aleotti (Sacrae cantiones, Venice 1593), Claudia Sessa (Canti sacri), and Claudia Francesca Rusca (Sacri Concerti), an Italian nun composer, singer, and organist.

Crescendo Vocal Ensemble is joined by Rachel Begley, dulcian and recorder, and is led by Christine Gevert from the organ

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 Radio for their ongoing support.

Spring Baroque

Sat., May 10, 2025 at 6 pm
Trinity Church
Lakeville, CT 06039

Sun., May 11, 2025 at 4 pm
Saint James Place
Great Barrington, MA 01230

Body & Soul: Cavalieri’s Rapressentatione di Anima e di Corpo

Sat., May 10, 2025 at 6 pm   Trinity Church, Lakeville, CT
Sun., May 11, 2025 at 4 pm   Saint James Place, Great Barrington, MA

Roman composer Emilio Cavalieri wrote and premiered his groundbreaking work Rappresentatione del alma e di corpo  with great success in 1600. The question remains, whether this work is considered an opera or an oratorio (sacred drama)!

The subject, an allegorical drama, is a lively debate over worldly vanities versus a spiritual life. It features six allegorical figures: Anima, the Soul (soprano), Corpo, the Body (baritone), Good Counsel (bass), Intellect (tenor), Time (bass), Pleasure (mezzo-soprano), and a chorus that comments on the action, accompanied by a chamber orchestra. Arias, recitativos, ensemble pieces and dance alternate to create a varied and dramatic and entertaining representation of the plot. This is something that we take for granted now, as we are so used to this format in opera, cantata, oratorio, and also the popular contemporary musicals.

Crescendo Chorus, Soloists and 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 Radio for their ongoing support.

Summer 2025 Choral Singing Sessions

June – July 2025  Trinity Church, Lakeville, CT, and Saint James Place, Great Barrington, MA

These summer sessions are an opportunity to sing with a small group, exploring the repertoire, understanding what is behind the music, how the composition is conceived, and what it means. In each session we will offer some tools of vocal technique, and also brief exercises to build or develop your practical musical skills. The workshop leader is Christine Gevert. Three levels are offered: easy, intermediate, or advanced. Sessions last for about an hour and a half, for 5 weeks. Dates: TBD (June to July 2025).

Session Themes: 1. Broadway Showtunes; 2. Irish and English Folk songs; 3. Latin American Music (Chile, Peru and Bolivia–Renaissance to Modern); 4. Baroque Opera Choruses (Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, Purcell’s King Arthur, Handel’s Theodora, and others); 5. Johann Sebastian Bach: Motets;  6. Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine SV 206

Apply by writing to crescendo@crescendomusic.org with your session choices and singing level. Registration fee: $75 per set of five sessions

Support for these workshops 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 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.

COVID PROTOCOL FOR CRESCENDO’S CONCERTS AND EVENTS

Covid Prevention Policy: Masking recommended for audience members. These policies will be adapted according to community transmission rates.