Many people don’t think they listen to opera, but you can’t escape it when you watch advertisements, TV shows, and films. In fact, opera is a greater part of our culture than it receives credit for.
This Spring’s Music Sunday (coincidentally, April 10 is the beginning of the week that happens to include “World Voice Day”) brings opera front and center as Music Director Polly Oliver and the musicians, singers and Areen Bell Choir of First Parish present an all-opera event.
In the past we’ve invited soloists and instrumentalists who are prominent in local and national opera programs to grace our church in various Music Sundays. This year, we harness our own congregation’s musical resources to do pieces that currently include the bravura La Donna e Mobile solo by Jay Woodruff from Rigoletto; the inspiring Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco by the choir; from The Gondoliers, the humorous duet We are Gondolieri with Jay and Jim Kitendaugh; the famous O Belle Nuit for treble choir voices from Tales of Hoffmann; an instrumental duet — Questa Quella — from Rigoletto with Charlie Anderson on trumpet and Polly on piano; and two lovely Puccini arias by Amy Meneely — O Mio Babino Caro and Mi Chiamino Mimi — from Gianni Schichi and La Boheme.
We’re excited that the Bell Choir joins us for the first time in a Music Sunday performance. They are scheduled to do Evening Prayer from Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck, accompanied by Polly. The congregation joins us in a sing-along of Villia from Lehar’s The Merry Widow to conclude the
service.
Join us in person or online April 10!
First Parish Music Committee and Polly Oliver, Music Director