With great enthusiasm we announced this season’s concert series and the return to live performances. Little did we know that Covid-19 would mutate causing both a longer pandemic and Commonwealth Chorale’s need for flexibility. And flex we did!  In November, we performed our “American Sounds ” concert audience-free and professionally videographed. Look below for the full program and video links.

Now the Chorale has had to cancel its March concert. With the pandemic surging, rehearsing has been an impossibility. The concert would have featured Minnesota’s bluegrass band Monroe Crossing, the group that premiered Carol Barnett’s The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass. In Barnett's unusual approach to The World Beloved, she has written what she calls "cheery sacred music", blending the usual solemnity of a Mass with down-home energy and rhythms of bluegrass. In addition to accompanying the Mass, Monroe Crossing was to play a set of their favorite bluegrass songs, and the Chorale was to sing a set of Aaron Copland songs from his Old American Songs. We hope to reschedule this exciting program with Monroe Crossing when it is deemed safe to do so. Whenever it takes place, this is a concert worth waiting for.  We’ll be sure to save you a seat! 

Looking forward, we anticipate performing the very special and last planned concert of the season. Why is it so special? The concert is in honor of the retirement of David Carrier, our Music Director of 43 years.  He has selected two majestic works that take us back to our classical roots. In this year of ups and downs, this will be the magnificent finish we all need: maestro, performers and audience. The program includes Joseph Haydn's Missa in Angustus (Lord Nelson Mass) and J.S. Bach's Cantata 140 (Wachet auf ruff uns die Stimme) also known as Awake, a voice is calling. Carrier will conduct orchestra, chorus, and soloists: soprano Dana Varga, mezzo-soprano Vera Savage, tenor Matthew Anderson, and baritone David McFerrin. This will be a concert to lift the spirit, certain to inspire joy and hope to the listener.  Plan to join this celebration on Saturday, May 14, 8 pm, at Church of the Holy Name,1689 Centre Street, West Roxbury. Tickets are available for purchase through the "ticket sales" menu on this page.

Commonwealth Chorale had prepared a November 2021 program with the lovely harmonies of composer Stephen Paulus and the stirring, uplifting choral works of Gwyneth Walker, hoping to perform live.  With the pandemic continuing, the live performance was canceled, but we came together (masked, of course) to record this beautiful music to offer our audience a video experience.  Here we present the Paulus and Walker pieces, as well as a past recording by the Chorale of several songs from Randall Thompson’s beloved Frostiana.  

 After watching each set of videos, click HOME in the menu at the top of the page to return here.