Choral Society Marks a Diamond
The summer concert of the Choral Society of the Hamptons will take a British theme to mark the Queen of England’s Diamond Jubilee and the opening of the Olympic Games in London in July.
The group will perform on July 7 at 7 p.m. at the parish hall of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton. Joining the members will be the South Fork Chamber Orchestra and four soloists: Anita Johnson, a soprano; Charlene Marcinko, a mezzo-soprano; Eapen Leubner, a tenor, and Frank Basile, a basso cantante.
They will perform Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” and two of Handel’s Coronation Anthems reminiscent of his “Messiah,” as well as a sinfonia from “Solomon.”
Continuing the English theme, the society will hold a high tea benefit before the concert, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., with tea sandwiches, rosé wine, and Pimm’s Cup, a cocktail typically of ginger ale, Pimm’s No. 1, and cucumber, familiar to those who frequent Ascot or Wimbledon. The tea will be held at the Living Room restaurant @ c/o The Maidstone.
According to the society, the “Lord Nelson” is considered Haydn’s greatest mass and his most popular. The piece has long been associated with Admiral Horatio Nelson’s victory over Napoleon at the Battle of the Nile, even though Haydn had reservations about the war.
The composer was Austrian, but he had strong British connections. He and Nelson became friends after Nelson heard the piece, and Haydn’s last 12 symphonies all had their premieres in London.
Mark Mangini will direct the society’s 60 voices, the soloists, and a 20-piece orchestra, including 14 strings.
Handel became a British citizen on the order of George I and thereafter composed several coronation anthems for George II and his queen, Caroline. They have been performed at every British coronation since. The orchestral piece from “Solomon,” with its arresting duet for two oboes, is a processional for another royal figure, the Queen of Sheba, dramatizing her entrance into Solomon’s court.
Ms. Johnson has performed at the Metropolitan Opera and at the White House for the Obamas. Ms. Marcinko has performed with the National Philharmonic and at the Choral Society’s presentation of Mozart’s “Requiem.” Mr. Leubner is a veteran of several opera companies, from Alaska to Brooklyn. Mr. Basile sings opera, jazz, and “everything else,” everywhere from the Met to his own cabaret show, which is dedicated to his wife, Celeste Holm.
Tickets for the tea and concert are available on the society’s Web site, choralsocietyofthehamptons.com.