IDENTITY: I Believe
Sunday, February 18, 2024 3PM
Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center
1234 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA
(Directions and info on free parking)
MARGARET BONDS, Credo
WILLIAM GRANT STILL, A Psalm for the Living
plus art songs, spirituals and gospel works by
HARRY T BURLEIGH • HORACE CLARENCE BOYER • THOMAS A. DORSEY • JESTER HAIRSTON, M. ROGER HOLLAND, II • J. ROSAMUND JOHNSON • PATRICK DUPRÉ QUIGLEY & REGINALD MOBLEY
Guest Artists:
Reginald Mobley, countertenor
Breanna Sinclairé, soprano
Philip Lima, baritone
David F. Coleman, piano
This Black History Month, Coro Allegro presents a program celebrating the artistry of Black composers, and their profound impact on American music, performed in concert with four acclaimed Black LGBTQ+ and allied artists, as part of our season long exploration of identity.
The concert title is drawn from composer Margaret Bond’s 1965 cantata, Credo (I believe), a setting of 1904 W. E. B. Du Bois’ poem of the same name. In the face of racism, Bonds and Du Bois's Credo powerfully affirms the common humanity of all nations, singing out with a faith that all people, "black and brown and white, are brothers." The same spirit inspires William Grant Still’s A Psalm for the Living, with lyrics by poet Verna Arvey, his wife, whom he had married in Mexico, due to anti-miscegenation laws in their home of California. At the heart of the program are African American spirituals, born from the experience of American slavery, plus the gospel works and art songs they inspired, which together form the backbone and foundation of so much American music.
We are honored to be joined by Reginald L. Mobley, countertenor, winner of the 2023 Presto Music Award, and 2024 Grammy nominee for best classical solo vocal album for Because with pianist Baptiste Trotignon. Mr. Mobley sang the title role in the 2016 premiere of Eric Banks Aluta Continua: The passion of David Kato Kisule. Coro Allegro will present him with the 15th Annual Daniel Pinkham Award in recognition of his advocacy for arts equity and his contributions to classical music and the LGBTQ+ community.
Coro Allegro is also thrilled to introduce Boston audiences to ground-breaking trans soprano Breanna Sinclairé, named a hero by OUT magazine and featured in the New York Times. We also welcome back two distinguished guest artists: Philip Lima, baritone—known to Coro Allegro audiences for his 2019 performance in Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight by Florence Price and 2016 premiere of Eric Banks' Aluta Continua: The passion of David Kato Kisule (with Mr. Mobley)—and David F. Coleman, piano, with whom we had the honor of working in our performance of Deep River, with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra on the Esplanade in 2019.
Don't miss this wonderful concert. Together we will celebrate the courage and power of Black artistry, to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ voices, and honor Coro Allegro's mission of building bridges between disparate communities through extraordinary music. We believe. And we look forward to seeing you there.
Tickets:
Premium: $80, A: $65, B: $45, C: $25
Seniors, Students: 20% off
Student special C ticket: $18
Card to Culture: $5 (see below)
Coro Allegro is pleased to be participating in the Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program by extending discounted $5 A, B, or C tickets (limit 4 per card) to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders. Tickets may be purchased showing your card at the door or in advance, using a discount code. To learn the advance discount code, please contact us at ticketmanager@coroallegro.org or 617-236-4011, or visit the Coro Allegro listing in the the full list of participating organizations offering EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare discounts. We hope to see you there!
All seating is general admission, broken down into sections.
Premium Seats are located in the first two rows of the middle section and in the front row stage left and stage right.