March Concert Friday March 15, 8 PM Chapin Hall, Williams College, Williamstown

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The Northern Berkshire Chorale’s March 15th concert The Soul’s Longing will feature works by Brahms, Verdi, Rossini and Handel. The program will be held at 8 PM in Chapin Hall on the Williams College Campus in Williamstown. Suggested donations are $10, $5 for students. 

In a message from Artistic Director Andrew Burger he states: “When planning my first season with the Northern Berkshire Chorale as Artistic Director I had not planned on each concert having such a historical narrative, but as the fall flew by it seemed that it was inevitable. Moving past the formidable legacy left by the composers we explored in the classical period, we turn to the romantic, which in choral music is highlighted by the two composers featured in this upcoming March 15 concert. 

Johannes Brahms and Giuseppe Verdi represent two national icons of a vast romantic choral library which is filled with very personal perspectives on death, the afterlife, and the human experience. The music itself not so morbid, rather the composers show very contrasting and dynamic attitudes towards the subjects. The two works that will be highlighted in our concert are the Brahms Nänie composed in 1881 and the Verdi Stabat Mater completed in 1897 (the last piece completed by Verdi). These pieces will be paired with other works by Brahms, Rossini, and Handel, as well as a work by living composer Ola Gjeilo, The Ground, which will return on our May concert in its chamber orchestra version.”

 

Spring Program Rehearsals begin Monday January 14 at 7:15.

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Rehearsals for the Northern Berkshire Chorale’s spring concert will begin Monday, January 14, with the  first rehearsal starting at 7:15 pm in Presser Choral Hall in the Bernhard Music Center on the Williams College campus. Please plan to arrive around 15 minutes early to pay season dues (still $40) and pick up music.

Artistic Director Andrew Burger has planned another great lineup for the spring, including Durufle’s Requiem and more contemporary works from Lauridsen, Raminish, and Gjeilo.

For more information, email jmahon@williams.edu.

 

Fall concert 8:00 PM December 14 featuring Beethoven Mass in C

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New artistic Director Andrew Burger will lead the chorale in the glorious Beethoven Mass in C, with full orchestra. Also on the program will be the rarely preformed, gem of a work, the Mozart Kyrie in D Minor K. 341, and the complete scene ‘Achieved is the Glorious Work’ from Haydn’s The Creation (meaning the first ‘Achieved’, the trio interlude, and the second ‘Achieved’ which is often the stand alone anthem).

Concert will be held in Chapin Hall Friday December 14 at 8:00 PM.  Suggested donation is $10, $5 for students.

Andrew Burger, Artistic Director of the Northern Berkshire ChoraleAndrewBurgerPhoto

NBC welcomes new Artistic Director Andrew Burger

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Singers! 

The Northern Berkshire Chorale is pleased to announce that it has a new Artistic Director, Andrew Burger.

Andrew Burger is a choral conductor and performer from Niskayuna, New York. He is currently in his fifth year as the Director of Music Ministries of the Niskayuna Reformed Church, and has conducted numerous sacred anthems and larger classical works for chorus and orchestra including Faure’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Recently he was appointed tenor section leader of Albany Pro Musica, where he has sung for many years. 

Andrew has a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Bard College. At Bard he served as Assistant Conductor and Choral Administrator, studied conducting with James Bagwell, and conducted in concert works including Bruckner’s Te Deum and Handel’s Coronation Anthems. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the College of Saint Rose. While not pursuing his musical career, Andrew helps on his parent’s greenhouse and vegetable farm in Niskayuna, where he is foreman and retail manager. 

Rehearsals for the fall concert will begin Monday September 17 at 7:15 PM in the Presser Rehearsal Hall, Bernhard Music Center, Williams College Campus, Williamstown. Dues are $40, and music will be available at the rehearsal. Please come early to sign in and pick up your scores.

The December concert is in Chapin Hall on December 14, and it will feature the glorious Beethoven Mass in C, with full orchestra. Also on the program will be the rarely preformed, gem of a work, the Mozart Kyrie in D Minor K. 341, and the complete scene ‘Achieved is the Glorious Work’ from Haydn’s The Creation (meaning the first ‘Achieved’, the trio interlude, and the second ‘Achieved’ which is often the stand alone anthem). All told it’s about an hour and 5 minutes of music, featuring some of the best choral works of the three undisputed greatest Classical Period composers.

Beethoven Mass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yfj6jVglok&authuser=0

SinAndrewBurgerPhotogers of all parts are welcome! For more info: email Jim Mahon: jmahon@williams.edu

Northern Berkshire Chorale announces Spring Concert April 27

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The Northern Berkshire Chorale will present a concert of choral music under the direction of Noah Palmer at 8PM Friday, April 27, in Thompson Chapel on the Williams College campus. The concert will feature music by Bernstein and Elgar.

In celebration of conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday this year selections from his Broadway musicals “West Side Story,” “Wonderful Town,” and “Candide” will be performed. Bernstein was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States to receive worldwide acclaim and wrote in many styles encompassing symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and pieces for the piano. “West Side Story” remains one of his most popular works.

Elgar’s Op. 27, Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands, is a delightful and rarely performed set of gems. The set represents an artistic collaboration between Edward and his wife, Alice, who wrote the poetry. The lyric verse, by turns cheerful, rambunctious, and exalted, is inspired by the Elgar’s vacation to Bavaria in 1894 and traditional Bavarian folk songs.

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Rehearsals for spring concert begin February 12!

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If you like to sing, you are invited to come join the Northern Berkshire Chorale under director Noah Palmer at its first spring rehearsal on Monday February 12 in Presser Hall on the Williams College campus. Rehearsals are from 7:15 to 9:15, but please come at 7:00 PM to sign in and pick up music. Dues will be $40 to help defray costs of music and the director and accompanist.

The spring concert will feature primarily Broadway music by Leonard Bernstein in this 100th year since his birth. In addition there will be a piece by Elgar, Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands. The concert is on April 27th (dress rehearsal on the 26th) in Thompson Chapel. All voices are welcomed!

We hope you will consider coming to join us!

For past members, we did a number of the Bernstein pieces a few years back; if you still have the music, bring it along!

For additional information, email Jim Mahon at jmahon@williams.edu

Early Winter Concert 8:00 PM Friday December 15

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Join the Northern Berkshire Chorale under the direction of Noah Palmer on Friday December 15 at 8 PM in Chapin Hall on the Williams College campus, Williamstown for their early winter concert.

Featuring Mozart’s exciting and joyful Vespers setting, Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, one of Mozart’s most prized compositions, it has a little bit of everything–rhythmical celebration choruses, stately church fugues, and a fluid and mesmerizing solo for soprano. The Laudate Dominum movement contains one of the most gorgeous melodies that Mozart wrote for the voice. Sylvia Stoner, one of the Capital Region’s premier sopranos, will be featured in this performance.

The concert opens with Handel’s 4th Chandos Anthem, O Sing Unto the Lord. Handel composed the Chandos Anthems while working for the Duke of Chandos at the Duke’s estate in Cannons, England. They are modest psalm settings with minimal orchestration–almost like chamber music–yet with the rich variety of choral and solo forces. Tenor Alexander Turpin will sing The Waves of the Sea, featuring bouts of effervescent coloratura and great dramatic flair. Additional soloists are Ann Marie Adamick, mezzo soprano, and Keith Kibler, bass.

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Join us for our Spring Concert 8:00 PM Friday April 28, Thompson Chapel at Williams College

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Spring Concert

The Northern Berkshire Chorale’s Spring concert is Friday April 28 at 8:00 PM in Thompson Chapel on the Williams College Campus in Williamstown.

The Springtime of the Year: Five Centuries of American and British Songs will celebrate the music of a range of composers including Vaughan Williams, Aaron Copland and Stephen Foster.

Northern Berkshire Chorale rehearsals are Monday evenings from 7:15-9:15 in Presser Choral Hall in the Bernhard Music Center on the Williams College campus. nbchorale.org for more information.

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