With the buds of spring come stirrings of life in the concert world! In the first week of March at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Kent was able to gather for the first time with a sizeable group: the Cathedral Choir, Ensemble 1047, and soloists Andrew Fuchs, Joseph Beutel, Amy Justman, Kirsten Sollek, Lawrence Jones, and Peter Stewart – to record a performance of Bach’s St. John Passion, which will premiere on Monday, March 29, at 7 PM. You can purchase tickets – and support the Cathedral’s Great Music in a Great Space series – and the stream will be available through April 28.

And join the virtual services at St. John the Divine this Easter season and hear performances by the Cathedral Choir, Chorale, and Choristers with strings, brass, and organ – recorded in the Cathedral’s Synod Hall with remote contributions layered in – including two chant Passion settings arranged by Kent, along with favorite hymns, anthems and a cappella motets.

Plans are in the works for more spring events: Musica Sacra and Rose of the Compass are collaborating to record a concert in April for release as a stream later in the spring, to include Immigrant Songs by Robert and the Reverend Victoria Sirota. And the Oratorio Society of New York will perform an outdoor mini-concert on June 5 at 2 PM at the Pulpit Green of St. John the Divine: music of Heinrich Schütz, Anton Bruckner, and Sergei Rachmaninoff, plus William Dawson’s setting of “Balm in Gilead,” Jean Ritchie’s “Cool of the Day,” and Stephen Paulus’s “The Road Home.” 

As always, keep an eye on Kent’s website and Facebook page for details!