Chamber Series — The Russian-French Connection
Friday, March 27, 2026 | 7 PM
Follen Church, Lexington
The Program
Chamber Series —
The Russian-French Connection
Allison Voth, Chamber Series Director
In this vivid and eclectic program, Cantata Singers explores the fascinating musical crosscurrents between Russia and France at the turn of the 20th century—two cultures that inspired and challenged one another through war, exile, revolution, and reinvention.
Anchored by the ever-inventive voice of Igor Stravinsky, this recital features a striking array of songs by Russian and French composers who blurred national and stylistic boundaries. From Tchaikovsky’s lush Six Mélodies to Berlioz’s dreamy Les nuits d’été, Mussorgsky’s chilling Songs and Dances of Death, and Ibert’s poignant Chansons de Don Quichotte, the program traverses themes of memory, myth, mortality, and the avant-garde.
This chamber recital is presented in honor of Les Noces, Stravinsky’s groundbreaking choral work featured on Cantata Singers’ spring mainstage—an audacious fusion of Russian folk music and Parisian modernism. Come experience the intimate echoes of that larger world here.
Featuring:
Kayleigh Bennett, alto
Erica Brookhyser, mezzo-soprano
James Liu, baritone
Ryan Mewhorter, baritone
Kay Patterson, soprano
Danielle Pribyl, soprano
Felicity Salmon, soprano
Jennifer Webb, mezzo-soprano
Meet the Chamber Series Director
Allison Voth, piano
Allison Voth is an associate professor of music at Boston University’s School of Music, and principal coach at Boston University’s Opera Institute. She widely concertized with Lucine Amara of the Metropolitan Opera. She is widely known as a diction coach in Boston and throughout the U.S. She has worked as diction coach and/or répétiteur with such companies as Opera Boston, Boston Lyric Opera, Emmanuel Music, Chautauqua Opera, Providence Opera, Granite State Opera, the Verismo Opera of New Jersey and Opera North. Festivals include Opera Unlimited, The Florence Vocal Seminar and the Athens Music Festival. Ms. Voth is well recognized for her supertitles, which have been used in both national and international opera productions including Washington Opera, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Barbicon Festival in London, Opera Boston, Palm Beach Opera among many others. For several years she had a unique, ongoing collaboration with John Conklin as supertitle co-writer and designer for Boston Lyric Opera. Since 2023, Ms. Voth has been the pre-performance lecturer for Boston Lyric Opera. As a champion of new music, she has performed and assisted in many premieres with ALEA III, Collage New Music, The New Music Consort, The Group for Contemporary Players and The National Orchestra Association New Music Project. She is a specialist in the music of Paul Bowles and was on the cutting edge of the Paul Bowles revival movement in the 1990’s when she produced and performed in a multi-media production of music and readings entitled Paul Bowles: One Man, Two Minds at Merkin Hall in New York. The EOS Ensemble consequently invited her to participate in its Paul Bowles Festival in New York where she premiered a set of piano preludes. In 2011 as part of the Boston University Fringe Festival, she co-produced and music directed a Paul and Jane Bowles centennial celebration which included a multi-media performance entitled Two Stars in the Desert (also performed at BU’s yearly Incite Festival in New York), as well as a fully staged Boston premiere of his theatre work Yerma. Ms. Voth, recognized for her innovative programming, is the Chamber Series Music Director for the well-known Cantata Singers in Boston. She can be heard on CRI recordings.
Featured Soloists
Boston-based soprano Kay Patterson performs regularly on both operatic and concert stages, with a particular focus on early music. She has appeared with organizations including Boston Lyric Opera, Emmanuel Music, Odyssey Opera, and Cantata Singers. Her performances have been praised by Boston Musical Intelligencer and Boston Classical Review.
Kay Patterson – Soprano
Mezzo-soprano Kayleigh Bennett is a Boston-based performer and music instructor. She holds degrees from Moravian University and the New England Conservatory. Bennett performs regularly with ensembles including Cantata Singers, Berkshire Opera Festival, Tutti Music Collective, and Cambridge Chamber Ensemble.
Kayleigh Bennett – Mezzo-soprano
Boston-based baritone Ryan Mewhorter has been singing with Cantata Singers for four years and appears regularly on the ensemble’s Chamber Series. He also performs with groups including the All Saints Parish Choir, Copley Singers, and Boston University’s Opera Institute. His operatic roles include Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte and Charles Babbage in The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace.
Ryan Mewhorter – Baritone
Soprano Danielle Pribyl is a Boston-based performer who completed her Master’s degree at Boston University. She made her international debut as Zerlina in Prague and has since appeared with organizations including Boston Opera Collaborative, Boston Ballet, Harvard’s Music and Theatre program, and Cantata Singers. She currently serves as cantor and soprano section leader at St. Paul’s Parish in Harvard Square.
Danielle Pribyl – Soprano
Mezzo-soprano Erica Brookhyser has performed extensively on opera stages across the United States and Europe. Known for her portrayal of Carmen, she won ARTE-TV’s international competition Open Opera: Who Will Become Carmen?. As a concert soloist she has appeared in works including Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.
Erica Brookhyser – mezzo-soprano
Baritone James Liu is a physician and active performer in the Boston choral community. He has sung with Cantata Singers and other ensembles in works including Handel’s Messiah, Duruflé’s Requiem, Bach’s cantatas and passions, and Monteverdi’s Vespers. His operatic repertoire includes roles from Mozart, Verdi, Gounod, and more.
James Liu – Baritone
Soprano Felicity Salmon has been a member of Cantata Singers since 2013 and frequently appears as a soloist in both the Concert and Chamber Series. Praised by Boston Musical Intelligencer for her “brightly focused” sound, her repertoire ranges from early music to contemporary works. She currently serves as Chorus Manager for Cantata Singers and is also Music Program and Concert Manager at Wellesley College.
Felicity Salmon – Soprano
Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Webb performs regularly as both a soloist and chorister in the Boston area. A member of Cantata Singers since 2011, she has appeared with the ensemble in works including Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Bach and Handel oratorios, and Osvaldo Golijov’s Oceana. She has also collaborated on contemporary music projects and recordings with composers and vocal ensembles across the region.
Jennifer Webb – Mezzo-soprano
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Approx. 70-80 minutes. There will be no intermission.
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755 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02420
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Parking lot across the street
On Massachusetts Avenue or Follen Road
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MBTA 62 and 76 buses from the Alewife T station
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Fully accessible; elevator access inside church
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Wear what makes you feel comfortable!