Ivor Davies'
Prayers from the Ark
plus music of Britten, Barber, Dinerstein, Hindemith,
and The Manhattan Transfer
Our final concert on Sunday, May 16, 2010 celebrates the glories of “Animals,” and within that theme we’ll perform a wildly diverse mix of music. A bust-down-the-door opening gospel number, “De animals a-comin’,” segues into the dry, veddy British whimsy of Ivor Davie’s Prayers from the Ark, in which various animals make appeals to God. (Laughing is usually verboten at classical concerts, but it’s OK here.) Next are songs by modern American composer Norman Dinerstein that explore the inner life of....frogs. The first half ends with Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb,” one of his best-loved works.
The second half starts with Samuel Barber’s “Reincarnations.” Not many non-human animals here, but gorgeous music. Six Hindesmith songs set to nature-centered poetry by Rilke are elegant, enigmatic, and profound. The concert ends in a funkier vibe with three breezy tunes popularized by the Manhattan Transfer -- "Operator" (not the Jim Croce \song from the '70s), "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," and "Birdland."
It's sure to be a thrilling and animated afternoon!
