Journey
The first half of this program showcases our talented Lift Every Voice scholars as, with a chamber orchestra, they perform highlights of oratorio repertoire prepared and polished during their residency with Cantate. In the second half of the program, Cantate Concert Choir shares Ola Gjeilo’s Dreamweaver and Jake Runestad’s The Secret of the Sea, which take us on beautiful, fantastical, and profound journeys of exploration.
Reflect & Revive
Capital City Symphony continues its tradition of presenting outstanding young classical solo artists. We are thrilled to present Sophia Lin, 2024 winner of the Ylda Novik Memorial Concerto Competition on piano, performing Mozart, Concerto No. 20 in D minor.
As one young woman breathes new life into the future of music, we also remember powerful, promising young people who were robbed of breath far too soon. Composed in 1963, Margaret Bonds' "Montgomery Variations" is a set of orchestral meditations on the spiritual "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me." Each variation reflects on the Civil Rights Movement, from tributes to Martin Luther King Jr., to the pivotal citizens and events in Montgomery, Alabama, to the deep undercurrent of faith in the march for justice.
Sacred Places
Cantate Chamber Singers, joined by string quartet and piano, explore themes of compassion and hope in the face of injustice. Caroline Shaw’s To the Hands addresses immigrant crises. Based on a Jewish service, Alex Berko’s Sacred Place “is an ecological service that connects the old with the new, the sacred with the secular, and the individual with their community,” according to the composer. The program is completed by two stunning works from Ola Gjeilo.
Heal
Capital City Symphony and Cantate Concert Choir unite in the final concert of their seasons. Together, they share a musical meditation on times of trouble in our human experience, and the path to healing. Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” depicts life-affirming hope for brotherhood and peace, and Carlos Simon’s “Brea(d)th” provides a “moving, yearning, admonition for repair” in response to the death of George Floyd - almost five years earlier to the day. The powerful spoken words - performed with the ensembles by librettist and spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph - span centuries and genres, serving as a reflection on sacrifice, loss, strength, and a call to action for a better tomorrow.
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Sing! Holiday Concerts - 5:30pm
The Capital City Symphony’s annual holiday concert fills the air with joyous music once again, featuring the dynamic sounds of The Capital Hearings! Bring your family & friends and sing along, as the orchestra takes you on a whirlwind tour of seasonal favorites.
Sing! Holiday Concerts - 3pm
The Capital City Symphony’s annual holiday concert fills the air with joyous music once again, featuring the dynamic sounds of The Capital Hearings! Bring your family & friends and sing along, as the orchestra takes you on a whirlwind tour of seasonal favorites.
A Winter’s Night
Cantate Chamber Singers returns to a long-time favorite, Britten’s Ceremony of Carols for chorus and harp, alongside John Muehleisen’s beautiful cycle, This Night, for the same pairing. The program is completed with seasonal miniatures by Jennifer Higdon, Morten Lauridsen, Nathaniel Dett, and more, to set the stage for a contemplative and joyous holiday season.
Verdi’s Requiem
Cantate’s Artistic Director Victoria Gau takes the conductor’s podium at Strathmore Concert Hall to lead Cantate and National Philharmonic Orchestra in a full-scale performance of Verdi’s timeless Missa da Requiem. A quartet of world-class soloists brings power, emotion, and intensity to the performance: soprano Amber Monroe, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Wór, tenor Rafael Moras, and bass Zaikuan Song. Whether you’re experiencing Verdi’s Requiem for the first time or revisiting a beloved classic, you’ll be enthralled by a work that is as much a masterpiece today as it was at its premiere 150 years ago.
*Please note that tickets to Verdi’s Requiem are included in a Cantate season subscription, but individual tickets must be purchased through the National Philharmonic website. Tickets issued as part of a Cantate subscription will be eligible for exchange or upgrade by contacting the Cantate Box Office at (301)986-1799.
Inspire: CCS Family Concert- 5pm
Join CCS and celebrated performer Erika Rose for a symphonic adventure that will make you gasp with delight! The lively Brahms “Hungarian Dance No. 5” draws you in, then join the performance in Bruce Adolphe’s “Three Pieces for Kids In The Audience & Chamber Orchestra.” As the grand finale, Jessie Montgomery's "Because" (based on the beloved story by Mo Willems) tells the tale of a curious girl who discovers the magic of music through the power of community. As the stage comes to life with narration, colorful illustrations, and a full orchestra, the playful melodies of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony mingle with Montgomery's original music as the girl moves from exploration to discovery.
Prepare to be surprised, laugh along – and maybe find your own inspiration at our Instrument Petting Zoo!
Inspire: CCS Family Concert - 2:30 pm
Join CCS and celebrated performer Erika Rose for a symphonic adventure that will make you gasp with delight! The lively Brahms “Hungarian Dance No. 5” draws you in, then join the performance in Bruce Adolphe’s “Three Pieces for Kids In The Audience & Chamber Orchestra.” As the grand finale, Jessie Montgomery's "Because" (based on the beloved story by Mo Willems) tells the tale of a curious girl who discovers the magic of music through the power of community. As the stage comes to life with narration, colorful illustrations, and a full orchestra, the playful melodies of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony mingle with Montgomery's original music as the girl moves from exploration to discovery.
Prepare to be surprised, laugh along – and maybe find your own inspiration at our Instrument Petting Zoo!
Much Ado
Cantate Chamber Singers partners with The Firebird Project Theatre Company for an immersive exploration of Shakespeare’s works through word and song. This unforgettable evening weaves together choral settings by Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Rutter, Emma Lou Diemer, and more with dynamic dramatic interpretations of scenes from the canon staged by playwright/director Zoe Senese-Grossberg. Join the performers after the concert for a reception celebrating the opening of our 40th anniversary season!
Renew
We bring in our season with an invitation to “stay put for a spell” in a musical evening of rebirth, rest, and resilience. Carlos Simon's "Breathe" sets the scene, inviting a moment of introspective calm. Centered, we move into the exuberance and abandon of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. Finally, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite ignites the program's conclusion, depicting a renewal fueled with primal energy. Together, these pieces remind us to find peace within, awaken our sense of joy, and celebrate the transformative power of starting anew.