Schola Cantorum of Boston (Frederick Jodry, director), presents a concert of Spanish works from the 16th century by Victoria, Morales and Guerrero and a 20th century work for guitar and mixed chorus by Castelnuobo-Tedesco on Saturday, October 6 at 8 PM at Church of St John the Evangelist, 35 Bowdoin Street in downtown Boston. Joining Schola Cantorum for this concert is classical guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan. Tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors, $8 for students), available at the door only. For further information, please call 401/274-5073 or visit Schola Cantorum's web page, http://www.ScholaCantorumBoston.com.
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, born to an old Tuscan family of Sephardic origin, is one of the foremost guitar composers in the 20th century. A meeting with acclaimed guitarist Andrés Segovia in 1932 provided the inspiration for the first of his works for guitar. Castelnuovo-Tedesco's "Romancero gitano" (Gypsy Ballads). Op. 152, written for mixed choir and guitar in 1951, draws on martyred poet Federico Garcia Lorca's "Poema del Cante Jondo". Written in the polyphonic style of Renaissance madrigals, the lines have a marked Spanish flavor.
Guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan began playing classical guitar at age 16. Since then he has premiered nearly 50 solo compositions, founded the New Lullaby Project and Greater Boston House Concerts, and begun ¡Con Fuego!, a classical Spanish music and flamenco dance ensemble. He gives regular recitals throughout the country and is both a concerto soloist and a sought after chamber musician, performing works by Stravinksy, Villa-Lobos, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Piazzolla, Takemitsu, Shankar and more. This concert marks his first collaboration with Schola Cantorum of Boston.
Schola Cantorum's featured piece in this concert is the mass written by Tomas Luis de Victoria on his famous motet "O magnum mysterium." The vocal ensemble will also sing motets by Morales and villancicos by Guerrero.
For the past 25 years, Schola Cantorum has been recognized for lively and evocative performances of Renaissance sacred music. Singing without a conductor, the group brings an intimacy and excitement to this lovely repertoire. With Joel Cohen, Schola Cantorum has performed at Tanglewood and served as the chorus for the Boston Camerata, winning several prizes for recordings ranging from Early American Shaker Music to Spanish Music from the New World. Schola Cantorum has also sung at the Boston Early Music Festival. Founder/director Frederick Jodry has been acclaimed as an organist and singer, and since 1991 as the conductor of the Brown University Chorus.