Sunday, March 7, 2027 @ 4 PM
First Baptist Church, Newton, Massachusetts

Venetian Light, Dresden Fervor

Joy, wonder, and discovery come together as Vivaldi’s beloved masterpieces meet Zelenka’s thrilling, rarely heard Baroque voice.

Antonio Vivaldi:  Gloria (RV 589)
Antonio Vivaldi:  Magnificat (RV 610)
Jan Dismas Zelenka:  Dixit Dominus (ZMV 66)

Maria Whitcomb, soprano
Laura Couch, mezzo-soprano
Matthew McGinnis, tenor
William Farrell, bass
With chamber orchestra

This program brings together three remarkable late Baroque works by baroque icon Antonio Vivaldi and undeservedly lesser-known Jan Dismas Zelenka, composers whose music reflects two vibrant European centers: Venice and Dresden.

Venetian Light, Dresden Fervor celebrates the power of the human voice to express emotions that remain timeless—celebration, gratitude, hope, reflection, and the search for meaning.  Vivaldi’s radiant Gloria and tender Magnificat, written for the extraordinary musicians of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, reveal his gift for melody, contrast, and emotional depth. 

Zelenka’s dramatic Dixit Dominus introduces audiences to a composer of remarkable imagination, whose daring harmonies and expressive intensity deserve rediscovery.

Whether you are a lifelong classical music lover or attending your first choral concert, this program invites you to experience the beauty, energy, and wonder of many voices becoming one.