New England Philharmonic
Richard Pittman, Music Director
John Harbison Darkbloom: Overture for an Imagined Opera (Boston premiere)
Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring
Benjamin Britten Spring Symphony
Sarah Pelletier, soprano
Krista River, mezzo-soprano
Ray Bauwens, tenor
with Chorus pro Musica, Jamie Kirsch, Music Director, and Boston Childrens Chorus, Anthony Trecek-King, Artistic Director
Benjamin Britten’s choral Spring Symphony celebrates the arrival of that season after the long English winter, through settings of lyric poems from Spenser to Auden for a splendid array of voices and instruments. John Harbison’s Darkbloom overture is a balletic setting of the story of a man and a woman, echoed by the scenario for Aaron Copland’s beloved American ballet Appalachian Spring.
The Boston Globe: “Sunday’s performance united the Philharmonic with the singers of Chorus pro Musica and the Boston Children’s Chorus, and the capable vocal soloists Sarah Pelletier, Krista River, and Ray Bauwens. Under Pittman’s direction, the results were vibrant and involving, with notably clear diction from the choruses.”
Boston Classical Review: “Chorus Pro Musica, with uniform blend, answered with robust phrases when called upon, their tone swelling to luminous sound.”
Boston Musical Intelligencer: “Singers . . . maneuvered through Britten’s challenging mixed meters with good connection to Pittman, their voices sailing over the orchestra in excellent rhythmic unison.”