Current Season
Stay Tuned for More Information on the 2019 Summer Season
Past Seasons
2018 - 82nd Season
ORFF: Carmina Burana (1936) & DOVE: Arion and the Dolphin (2016)
with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP)
featuring Thomas Sheehan and Linda Osborn, piano
Friday, August 3, 2018, 8pm in Sanders Theatre
Sunday, August 5, 2018, 3pm, Peterborough Town House, Peterborough, NH (as part of the Monadnock Music Festival)
JONATHAN DOVE: ARION AND THE DOLPHIN
North American Premiere
Andrew Clark, conductor
Doug Dodson, countertenor
CARL ORFF: CARMINA BURANA
Margaret Weckworth, conductor
Ketti Muschler
Christian Figueroa
David Tinervia, baritone
This season, the Harvard Summer Chorus explores Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, one of world’s most popular and ubiquitous choral works. Based on a collection of thirteenth-century poem, Carmina Burana sets universal human themes — the fickleness of fate, the cycle of seasons, love and life — to soaring music for grand chorus. The “O Fortuna” movement is instantly recognizable from dramatic soundtracks and sporting events. Conceived as a companion piece for Carmina Burana, Jonathan Dove’s Arion and the Dolphin receives its North American premiere in these performances. The composer writes: “Arion is a young poet from Corinth who wins first prize in a singing contest in Sicily. During his voyage home, the sailors plot to kill him and keep his prize-money. Arion begs to sing one last song, and they allow him. His song draws dolphins to the ship. As soon as he finishes his song, he jumps overboard and is rescued by one of the dolphins who carries him to safety. The dolphin ends among the stars, as the constellation Delphinus.” Jonathan Dove’s vibrant and lyrical music brings this ancient myth to life through the eloquent libretto written by Robert Graves. Our performance will feature the GRAMMY-nominated Boston Modern Orchestra Project alongside professional vocal soloists.
with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP)
featuring Thomas Sheehan and Linda Osborn, piano
Friday, August 3, 2018, 8pm in Sanders Theatre
Sunday, August 5, 2018, 3pm, Peterborough Town House, Peterborough, NH (as part of the Monadnock Music Festival)
JONATHAN DOVE: ARION AND THE DOLPHIN
North American Premiere
Andrew Clark, conductor
Doug Dodson, countertenor
CARL ORFF: CARMINA BURANA
Margaret Weckworth, conductor
Ketti Muschler
Christian Figueroa
David Tinervia, baritone
This season, the Harvard Summer Chorus explores Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, one of world’s most popular and ubiquitous choral works. Based on a collection of thirteenth-century poem, Carmina Burana sets universal human themes — the fickleness of fate, the cycle of seasons, love and life — to soaring music for grand chorus. The “O Fortuna” movement is instantly recognizable from dramatic soundtracks and sporting events. Conceived as a companion piece for Carmina Burana, Jonathan Dove’s Arion and the Dolphin receives its North American premiere in these performances. The composer writes: “Arion is a young poet from Corinth who wins first prize in a singing contest in Sicily. During his voyage home, the sailors plot to kill him and keep his prize-money. Arion begs to sing one last song, and they allow him. His song draws dolphins to the ship. As soon as he finishes his song, he jumps overboard and is rescued by one of the dolphins who carries him to safety. The dolphin ends among the stars, as the constellation Delphinus.” Jonathan Dove’s vibrant and lyrical music brings this ancient myth to life through the eloquent libretto written by Robert Graves. Our performance will feature the GRAMMY-nominated Boston Modern Orchestra Project alongside professional vocal soloists.
2017 - 81st Season
W.A. Mozart Requiem
in a new completion by Michael Ostrzyga
conducted by Michael Ostrzyga
Friday, July 28, 2017, 8pm, Tercentenary Theatre on Harvard Yard
Sunday July 30, 2017 3pm, Peterborough Town House, Peterborough NH (as part of the Monadnock Music Festival)
During the 2017 season, the Harvard Summer Chorus performed Mozart’s Requiem like you’ve never heard it before. Upon his death in 1791, Mozart had only completed fragments and outlines of his work, and Franz Süßmayr composed the rest of the “Mozart” Requiem the following year. The Summer Chorus will perform a world première of a new completion of the Requiem written by guest conductor and artist-in-residence Michael Ostrzyga, who will also conduct our performances. Maestro Ostrzyga is the Music Director at the University of Cologne where he conducts the Symphony Orchestra, Choir, and Chamber Choir, and he has gained an international reputation as a composer of choral music, having been commissioned by performers and festivals around the globe.
in a new completion by Michael Ostrzyga
conducted by Michael Ostrzyga
Friday, July 28, 2017, 8pm, Tercentenary Theatre on Harvard Yard
Sunday July 30, 2017 3pm, Peterborough Town House, Peterborough NH (as part of the Monadnock Music Festival)
During the 2017 season, the Harvard Summer Chorus performed Mozart’s Requiem like you’ve never heard it before. Upon his death in 1791, Mozart had only completed fragments and outlines of his work, and Franz Süßmayr composed the rest of the “Mozart” Requiem the following year. The Summer Chorus will perform a world première of a new completion of the Requiem written by guest conductor and artist-in-residence Michael Ostrzyga, who will also conduct our performances. Maestro Ostrzyga is the Music Director at the University of Cologne where he conducts the Symphony Orchestra, Choir, and Chamber Choir, and he has gained an international reputation as a composer of choral music, having been commissioned by performers and festivals around the globe.
2016 - 80th Season
Finney's Pilgrim Psalms and Cooman's Rain Songs
July 29, 2016, 8:00 pm in Sanders Theatre
July 31, 2016, 3:00 pm at the Monadnock Music Festival
with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Andrew Clark, Conductor
July 29, 2016, 8:00 pm in Sanders Theatre
July 31, 2016, 3:00 pm at the Monadnock Music Festival
with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Andrew Clark, Conductor
2015 - 79th Season
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
July 26, 2015, 12:30 pm
with the Handel and Haydn Society
Ian Watson, conductor
Handel's Esther (HWV50a)
July 31, 2015, 8:00 pm
with the Handel and Haydn Society
Dr. Andrew Clark, conductor
Margot Rood, Esther
Tori Lynn Cook, Israelite Woman
Ian Howell, 3rd Israelite
Charles Blandy, Assuerus
Patrick T. Waters, 1st Israelite
Mark Risinger, King Haman
July 26, 2015, 12:30 pm
with the Handel and Haydn Society
Ian Watson, conductor
Handel's Esther (HWV50a)
July 31, 2015, 8:00 pm
with the Handel and Haydn Society
Dr. Andrew Clark, conductor
Margot Rood, Esther
Tori Lynn Cook, Israelite Woman
Ian Howell, 3rd Israelite
Charles Blandy, Assuerus
Patrick T. Waters, 1st Israelite
Mark Risinger, King Haman
