Press Release

Cantemus Chorus Reschedules Holiday Concerts to January

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(Dec. 12, 2019) —For only the second time in over 30 years, the Cantemus Chamber Chorus was forced to postpone its scheduled December concerts. The “Star-Made Shadows” programs originally set for December 7 in Beverly and December 8 in Newburyport will now take place on Saturday, January 11 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 166 High Street in Newburyport; and on Sunday, January 12 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 4 Ocean Street in Beverly.

Long-time Cantemus singer Susan Nash alerted audience members: “We want to make sure people come to the right church on the right day. Faithful fans who come every year need to know two changes: Due to venue availability, the Newburyport concert is first, then Beverly. And the usual Newburyport venue has changed from Central Congregational to St. Paul’s.”

Nash remembers when a snowstorm forced Cantemus to postpone their concerts back in 2003. “Many in the audience told us they liked having the concerts in January because their schedules were more open, and it was something fun to do after the holidays. Sometimes ‘we need a little Christmas’ after Christmas!”

People holding tickets for either December concert may use those tickets for either January concert. Tickets are still available online, at www.cantemus.org. If “snowbirds” or others cannot attend in January, their December tickets will be honored at any of Cantemus’ spring “Bach Again” concerts, on April 25, 26 or May 3.

Cantemus’ “Star-Made Shadows” concert is centered on Antonio Vivaldi’s Magnificat in G minor, a setting of the Canticle of Mary for chorus, soloists, strings and organ, a piece that offered the composer the opportunity to explore a wide range of musical expression across its nine movements. Also on the program is his forceful setting of Psalm 116, Laudate Dominum, a piece Cantemus’ Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank calls “a little but mighty piece of music.” A string quartet of two violins, viola and cello will accompany the chorus, joined by guest artists Alecia Batson, soprano, and Heather Gallagher, mezzo-soprano.

More contemporary works on the program include Peter Anglea’s jaunty Jubilate Deo and Phil Mattson’s playful re-imagining of three familiar carols of the season. Two pieces by the young Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, a Cantemus favorite, convey his sweeping vision: Tundra and Across the Vast Eternal Sky. Finally, the chorus offers Morten Lauridsen’s haunting, deeply moving setting of James Agee’s poem Sure on This Shining Night, which has become a crowd favorite over the years, as the singers perform it while surrounding the audience.

Ticket particulars: “Star-Made Shadows” will be performed Saturday, January 11, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport; and Sunday, January 12, at 4:00 p.m., at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Beverly. While previously purchased tickets will be honored at both, tickets may still be purchased on the Cantemus website, www.cantemus.org, or, depending on availability, at the door. Regular adult admission is $25, senior admission is $20. Students 21 and under are admitted free.

Cantemus gratefully acknowledges funding support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Local Cultural Councils of Beverly, Ipswich and Newburyport. Cantemus is a member of Chorus America, and of the Greater Boston Choral Consortium, a cooperative association of diverse choral groups in Boston and the surrounding area.

Cantemus members come from 20 communities on the North Shore, Boston, Cambridge and New Hampshire: Amesbury: Gary Lubarsky, Ron Pressler. Beverly: Dick Church, Scott Hufford, Paul Kelly, Karen Kepler, Steve Naylor, Richard Salandrea, Rachel Small. Cambridge: Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank. Essex: Betsy Vicksell. Georgetown: Patty Clark. Gloucester: Ed Mowrey. Hamilton: Donna Gale, Marcy Homer, Pam Morris, Peggy Russell, Alison Thompson. Haverhill: Mern Ebinger, Doug Guy. Ipswich: Gary Freeman, Anne Maguire, Stephen Miles, Chris Reif, Sr. Pat Rolinger. Lynnfield: Priscilla March, Melanie Richard. Manchester-by-the-Sea: Isabella Bates. Marblehead: Debra Basile, David Rosen, Tanya Tupper. Melrose: Accompanist Jeffrey Mead. Newburyport: Richard Blumenscheid, Claire Cayot, Mark Robbins. Peabody: Marjorie Short. Rockport: Brittany Betts. Roslindale: Deborah Lemont. West Newbury: Jamie Cabot, Michael Fosburg, Melissa Lugo, Susan Nash. Winchester: Carol Weir, Jonathan Goodell. Durham, NH: Sydney van Asselt.

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For more information contact:
Douglas Guy, Press Liaison
978-994-4410