2011 - 2012 Concert Season Detail

  "The Seasons of Life"

'This season is dedicated to the memory of our fellow Mastersinger and good friend Rudy Riefstahl II who died unexpectedly in June.  We honor his multi-faceted contributions to our musical mission and will miss his kind demeanor and good humor.' 

"Autumn - A Season of Mystery"
October 29 & 30                                                                     

“A Season of Mystery” features Vivaldi’s famous Autumn violin concerto, Haydn’s wonderful Missa Brevis, Francesco Durante’s popular Magnificat, plus two evocative newer works: Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s deeply moving O magnum Mysterium and Norwegian composer Knut Nystedt’s mysterious Immortal Bach. Rounding out the program are Vivaldi’s charming Concerto for Two Flutes in C and C.P.E. Bach’s delightful Symphony No. 2.

"Welcome the Season - Handel & Bach"
November 27                                                                          

Mastersingers by the Sea again join forces with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, the South Coast Community Chorale, Sippican Choral Society, and the Greater Tiverton Community Chorus to “Welcome the Season” at St. Anthony’s Church in New Bedford. This performance of the Christmas portion Handel’s Messiah has become a Holiday Season tradition on the South Coast, and we will include J.S. Bach’s marvelous Cantata No. 61, “Nun komm der Heiden Heiland.”

"A Season of Rejoicing - An Elizabethan Yuletide Madrigal Feast"
December 13                                                                                

Join Mastersingers by the Sea in what has become the Cape's most unique and entertaining musical celebration of the Holiday season! Once again we will recreate the magic of an Elizabethan feasting hall as good Queen Bess invites you to join her Court for an old world Yuletide Feast featuring sumptuous food, gorgeous period costumes, delightful banter between our own Jester and the Queen’s Court and glorious Elizabethan music and dance. Good holiday fun never goes out of style!

"Winter - A Season of Remembering"
February 25 & 26                                                                      

“A Season of Remembering” features Samuel Barber’s pensive Dover Beach on Matthew Arnold’s poem with Robert Grady, tenor; Dominick Argento’s intriguing setting of Robert Browning’s A Toccata of Galuppi’s with Paul Cienniwa, harpsichord; and Mozart's youthful masterpiece, the Missa Brevis K.275.  The rest of the program again presents violinist Jesse Holstein performing Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto and the sultry and nostalgic tango-inspired Primera Suite Argentina by Argentinian composer Alberto Williams.

"Spring - A Season of Renewal"
April 21 & 22 

The 2011-12 Season ends with “A Season of Renewal.” Jesse Holstein returns to perform what is probably Vivaldi’s most famous work, the Spring Concerto from the “Four Seasons”, and the chorus sings J.S. Bach’s Mass in G Major. We are excited to present a new work by our friend Gwyneth Walker, "The Great Trees", and a short instrumental work by William Boyce completes the program.