Concert Details
Sunday, November 23, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
Songs and Vocal Chamber Music by Benjamin Britten
John Dowland, William Byrd, Gerald Finzi, Ivor Gurney, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten.
The British Isles’ long line of great poets, writers and playwrights inspired an equally great line of song writers, but Britten’s star shines particularly brightly among this group. For Britten, a beautiful melody and pleasing accompaniment were never enough - words and music became inseparable as he lifted text setting to a level never before heard.
The singing voice is the heart of Britten’s music, and many young singers first meet Britten by learning and performing his songs. Join with the glorious voices of Cantata Singers as we explore some of this enormous output – songs of Britten and his most influential teacher, Frank Bridge, setting poetry of Sitwell, de la Mare, Donne, Hardy, Blake and Auden.
No single concert can offer a complete picture of Britten’s works for solo voice, but neither can one fail to capture the imagination. Chamber Series Music Director Allison Voth gives us a concert that showcases Britten’s love for the singing voice in songs that are unmatched in seriousness, literary sophistication, musical imagination and depth of feeling by any since Schubert’s.
Where
Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall
Longy School of Music, Zabriskie House
27 Garden Street, Cambridge
http://www.longy.edu/
Via public transportation:
The Harvard Square station on the Red Line is located approximately 10 minutes walking distance from Longy. As you exit the underground T station, walk north toward Cambridge Common on JFK Street. JFK Street turns into Garden Street at the old Burial Ground. Continue up Garden Street, past the Sheraton Commander. The Longy School of Music is located on the right side of the street.
The following bus lines stop directly in front of Longy: 72, 72/75, 75, 74 and 76. All of these bus lines originate at the Harvard Square T Station.
Click here for detailed driving directions.
Parking
Limited parking is available on the street. Please carefully note any parking restrictions posted by the City of Cambridge.