From Constantinople to California to Cambridge! Renowned vocal ensemble Cappella Romana will perform The Byzantine Choral Inheritance at First Church in Cambridge, February 16, 7:30pm. Tickets start at just $35.
Emigrants from Greece and Asia Minor brought with them the sacred vocal music of the Byzantine inheritance to the New World. They passed it on to new generations of the faithful, singers, and composers here in America. In this program Cappella Romana will guide Greater Boston audiences through the historic traditions of Byzantine music to new works that draw inspiration from them.
Music Director Dr. Alexander Lingas will lead the first half of the program. The concert will begin with works in Greek from medieval Constantinople, followed by liturgical works by twentieth century Greek American composers such as Tikey Zes, Theodore Bogdanos, and Frank Desby.
The second half, led by Associate Music Director John Michael Boyer, will feature the East Coast premiere of Heaven and Earth: A Song of Creation, a setting of Psalm 103. Commissioned by the Saint John of Damascus Society to celebrate the discovery of the Higgs boson, six composers: Tikey Zes, +Richard Toensing, GRAMMY-nominee Kurt Sander, Alexander Khalil, John Michael Boyer, and Matthew Arndt, each set a portion of the Psalm, creating a seamless tapestry.
The concert is made possible by generous support from The Saint John of Damascus Society and a grant from Cambridge Arts, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.