Dear Kent,

Great programs are in store this spring when Kent leads his ensembles in a masterpiece of the literature, an immersive surround-sound presentation, and a world premiere: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra of St. John the Divine; “SurRound II” with Musica Sacra, a concert in 360°, also at the Cathedral; and a new oratorio by Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell, All Shall Rise, with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall.

For J.S. Bach’s mighty St. Matthew Passion at St. John the Divine on March 8, Kent spotlights the musical architecture of Bach’s masterwork with creative placement of the Cathedral’s choirs – the Choir, Chorale (volunteer ensemble) and Choristers (boys and girls) in the space. This concert marks acclaimed tenor Paul Appleby’s first performance of the part of the Evangelist; he leads a soloist roster of young rising stars: Joseph Parrish as Christus, and soprano Eva Martinez, mezzo-soprano Mary Beth (Nelson) Zaros, tenor Joshua Blue, and baritone Harrison Hintzsche.

Returning after a sold-out debut in October 2023 (called “a remarkable evening” by Classics Today) is Musica Sacra’s “SurRound II,” an immersive concert in 360° in the candlelit Cathedral of St. John the Divine on April 1. The audience, seated in the Great Choir stalls and floor, will experience a program of medieval, Renaissance, and contemporary works as Kent leads the singers throughout the cathedral – see program details below.

Culminating the Oratorio Society of New York Carnegie Hall season on May 5 is a concert featuring the world premiere of All Shall Rise, an oratorio exploring the history of voting rights in the U.S., by composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell – the third work OSNY has commissioned from the duo, following Sanctuary Road (2018) and A Nation of Others (2022) – along with Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2, “Lobgesang.” The concert’s soloists are Susanna Phillips, Lucia Bradford, Jonathan Pierce Rhodes, and Steven Eddy. As Campbell says, the new work “aligns the extraordinary words of such historical figures as Frederick Douglass, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and Mathilda Franziska Anneke with four personal stories of our time.”

Spring also brings opportunities to support Musica Sacra and Oratorio Society of New York at benefit events: on May 8, the OSNY annual auction, offering a wide variety of treasures and experiences (for more information, contact info@osny.org); and on May 13, Musica Sacra’s “Spring Soirée: Songs and Romances” features Kent leading members of the Musica Sacra chorus in music of Brahms, Schumann, and Schubert at a remarkable midtown Manhattan venue.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine welcomes all, in person and online, to its Holy Week services, at which Kent and his music colleagues will offer the glorious music of the Easter liturgy. See the schedule below, and see the repertoire to be sung here.

And Musica Sacra is back with the New York City Ballet in that company’s beloved presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream beginning May 27 – just in time for the coming of summer!