Schedule

Apr
28
Sat
Freedom Concert @ Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew
Apr 28 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Freedom Concert @ Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew | New York | New York | United States

The Dessoff Choirs’ Freedom Concert, modeled after “freedom concerts” presented by the late Coretta Scott King, offers a choral tapestry of music that reflects on events of the past while promoting hope for the future. Featured works include Ralph Vaughan Williams’ plea for peace, Dona nobis pacem (1936); Robert Sirota’s homage to the nine victims of the Mother Emanuel AME massacre, Prelude and Spiritual for Mother Emanuel; works by female composers; and a commissioned work written by David Hurd. The concert closes with the well-known civil rights freedom song Oh Freedom.

“Dona nobis pacem” from Mass in B minor Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Dona nobis pacem Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
“III. Adonai, Adonai Lo gavah libi” from Chichester Psalms Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Prelude and Spiritual for Mother Emanuel Robert Sirota (b.1949)
commissioned work David Hurd (b.1950)
Cry Peace Libby Larsen (b.1950)
Blessed Assurance Nancy Wertsch (b.1943)
We shall walk through the valley Undine Smith Moore (1904-1989)
Oh, Freedom arr. Malcolm J. Merriweather and Charles Duke
May
7
Mon
World Premiere: Paul Moravec’s “Sanctuary Road” @ Carnegie Hall
May 7 @ 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Led by preeminent conductor Kent Tritle, Malcolm returns to Carnegie Hall to sing the baritone solos in the world premiere of Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road, an oratorio about the Underground Railroad, commissioned by the Society.

Kent Tritle, conductor