Why we chose it: Our Neighbors North and South
From Executive Director Nick Adams:
Music beyond borders…
This past spring, I found myself in a delightful conversation about music bringing people together with Chamber Series Director Allison Voth. Over coffee in Cambridge, we were mapping out the next season of our much-loved Chamber Series. Allison, programming maven that she is, suggested musically celebrating our neighbors to the north and the south, Canada and Mexico. She’s Canadian, herself, and after all, there’s so much interesting and incredible music to feature. This decision was a no-brainer.
And just like that, "Our Neighbors North and South" was born.
After some months of discussion, we felt like bringing the series back to the heart of Boston was something we wanted to do. The venue choice eventually came to us like a perfect cadence – the French Library in Boston. How fitting to celebrate musical unity in a space dedicated to cultural exchange! The Library's intimate setting, with its warm acoustics and sophisticated ambiance, provides the ideal backdrop for this musical journey across borders.
Our program looks outward, celebrating the rich tapestry of North American classical music. From the sprawling Canadian prairies to the vibrant streets of Mexico City, this concert traverses the continent through its composers' distinctive voices.
The Canadian portion of our journey features John Greer's masterful "A Prairie Boy's Life" – a piece that captures the vast expanse of the Canadian landscape in a unique setting for four hands and vocal quartet. Imagine the rolling wheat fields and endless sky transformed into melody. Greer's songs, along with those of the brilliant John Estacio, paint portraits of our northern neighbor's soul through sound.
Crossing our other border, we dive into Mexico's rich musical heritage. Daniel Catán's luminous compositions shimmer like sunshine, while Carlos Chávez's works pulse with the heartbeat of ancient and modern Mexico. Arturo Márquez rounds out our musical afternoon with his irresistible rhythmic energy – it won’t be a shock if your toes tap.
As campaign ads have flooded our recent airways, we're offering a different kind of dialogue – one conducted in the universal language of music. No debates required – just the pure joy of artistic expression from our continental friends.
So join us at the French Library for an afternoon that proves that good music knows no boundaries. Bring your ears, your enthusiasm, and maybe your dancing shoes (cue the Márquez!). After all, in these interesting - to say the absolute least - times, couldn't we all use a reminder of the beautiful harmonies possible when we look beyond our own backyard?
And who knows? You might just discover your new favorite composer comes from right next door – whether that's the door to the north or the south.
Why we chose it: Boston Choral Festival
Executive Director Nick Adams:
Last winter, Operations Manager Kripa Joseph and I were riding in my car between site visits. We’d just seen a hip, bohemian venue in Back Bay, and the thought crossed my mind: what if we create an experience where high school singers could share the concert experience with us?
With some reservation, I said it out loud, and much to my surprise, she responded with an enthusiastic “yes, I love that!”
And with that, the Boston Choral Festival was born, and within an hour, we were pitching the idea to Music Director Noah Horn.
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Cantata Singers first concert was on November 15, 1964. We’ve been at this for 60 years. That’s worth celebrating. And with this festival concert we have planned on October 25, we’ll do just that. Except that we’ll do it with about 100 additional high school singers, pulled from various programs around the Greater Boston area. Buckle up, everyone… this ought to be fun.
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You might be asking, “Why Monteverdi? Why the Vespers?”
Monteverdi was essentially a rockstar of his time. Imagine a composer who pushed the boundaries of what music could be, blending sacred and secular styles in a way that was both daring and ethereal. Baroque Beyoncé? Perhaps. And the Vespers? It’s his masterpiece, a breathtaking collection of choral works that spans the gamut of human emotion.
But what makes this piece so special? It’s a perfect storm of innovation and tradition. Monteverdi masterfully weaves together ancient Gregorian chant with the fiery passion of the newly emerging opera style. It’s like a musical time traveler, transporting you from the serene contemplation of the past to the dramatic excitement of the future.
But it’s not just only about the music. It’s about the experience. Imagine filling the Cyclorama with the sound of 150 voices, accompanied by the rich textures of our orchestra players. It’s a sensory overload in the best possible way. 17th-century Venice meets 21st-century South End.
Monteverdi’s Vespers has captivated audiences for centuries; we think it will do the same on October 25th.