Program:

Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht
Kodály’s Budavári Te Deum
Janáček’s Amarus

Soloists:

Teresa Wakim, soprano
Alexandra Dietrich, alto
Lawrence Jones, tenor
Bradford Gleim, baritone

Details:

Mendelssohn’s great secular cantata Die erste Walpurgisnacht dramatizes Goethe’s poem about 9th century Druids who trick their Christian oppressors into letting them practice their ancient celebration of spring. Mendelssohn’s music is vigorous and beautiful, and the work evokes issues of religious freedom with considerable wit and charm.

Kodály’s Budavári Te Deum is a glorious, Hungarian-inflected setting of the ancient Latin hymn of praise, commissioned in 1936 by the Lord Mayor of Budapest.

Janáček’s Amarus tells of an orphan, raised by monks with neither love nor affection, who dies when he witnesses true romantic love.

Performed by a 200-voice chorus with a full orchestra. Conducted by Chorus pro Musica’s Music Director, Jamie Kirsch, and Metropolitan Chorale’s Music Director, Lisa Graham.