Chorus pro Musica, under the direction of Jamie Kirsch, presents Together, a timely program filled with masterpieces that call for unity, on March 10 at First Baptist Church in Newton. Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,” reminds us “how good, how pleasant it is, to dwell together in unity.” Bach’s Cantata 140: “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,” one of his most popular, joyously calls us to fellowship with God, and Arvo Pärt’s “L’Abbe Agathon,” shows how one might achieve divine peace by freely giving to others. The concert will also feature Judith Bingham’s “The Darkness Is No Darkness,” S.S. Wesley’s “Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace” and two Handel duets, “To thee, thou glorious son of worth” from “Theodora” and “Welcome as the dawn of the day” from “Solomon.”
Together | March 10, 2018 | First Baptist Church, Newton, 8 p.m.
THE PROGRAM
Bingham: The Darkness Is No Darkness
Wesley: Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace
Handel: “To thee, thou glorious son of worth” from “Theodora;” Sherezade Panthaki, soprano, Reginald L. Mobley, counterternor
Handel: “Welcome as the dawn of the day” from “Solomon;” Sherezade Panthaki, soprano, Reginald L. Mobley, counterternor
Pärt: L’Abbé Agathon
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms; Reginald L. Mobley, countertenor
Bach: Cantata “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” BWV 140; Sherezade Panthaki, soprano, Jonas Budris, tenor; David McFerrin, baritone
ABOUT THE SOLOISTS
Reginald L. Mobley, countertenor
Particularly noted for his “crystalline diction and pure, evenly produced tone,” Reginald L. Mobley is rapidly making a name for himself as a soloist in Baroque, classical and modern repertoires. His natural and preferred habitat as a soloist is within the works of Bach, Charpentier, Handel and Purcell, as well as other known Baroque period mainstays. He is also a longtime member of Seraphic Fire, the twice Grammy-nominated Miami-based professional vocal ensemble.
Sherezade Panthaki, soprano
Soprano Sherezade Panthaki’s international success has been fueled by superbly honed musicianship. An acknowledged star in the early-music field, Panthaki enjoys ongoing collaborations with many of the world’s leading interpreters including Nicholas McGegan, Mark Morris, Matthew Halls, Nicholas Kraemer, Paul Agnew, Lawrence Cummings, and Masaaki Suzuki, with whom she made her New York Philharmonic debut in a program of Bach and Mendelssohn. Her recent performance with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra was named one of the Top 10 Classical Music Events of the Year and described as “a breathtaking combination of expressive ardor, tonal clarity, technical mastery and dramatic vividness” by The San Francisco Chronicle.
Jonas Budris, tenor
Tenor Jonas Budris is a versatile soloist and ensemble musician, engaging new works and early music with equal passion. He is a featured soloist in Boston Baroque's Grammy-nominated recording of Monteverdi's opera “Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria.” He appears frequently in concert with the Handel and Haydn Society as a soloist and choral singer. Budris also performs in more intimate musical settings; he particularly enjoys singing with such groups as Blue Heron, Cut Circle, Spire, and the Skylark Vocal Ensemble. Budris is a Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Fellow at Emmanuel Music, where he performs regularly in the Bach Cantata and evening concert series. On the opera stage, he has performed principal and supporting roles with numerous musical organizations, including Opera Boston, OperaHub, Guerilla Opera, and Odyssey Opera.
David McFerrin, baritone
Hailed for a “voice of seductive beauty,” baritone David McFerrin has achieved critical acclaim in a variety of repertoire. His opera credits include Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Florida Grand Opera, the Rossini Festival in Germany, and numerous roles in Boston Lyric Opera. As concert soloist he has sung with the Cleveland Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic and Boston Pops, and in recital at the Caramoor, Ravinia, and Marlboro Festivals. This past summer McFerrin was a featured Adams Fellow at the Carmel Bach Festival. Upcoming highlights include a debut with Boston Baroque as Achilla in Handel’s “Giulio Cesare” and various programs with the renaissance group Blue Heron.