WOS Presents "Bach to Britten” on May 21

The Westchester Oratorio Society will present a program entitled “Memories—from Bach to Britten” on Saturday evening, May 21, at the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco.   The concert will feature a varied selection from WOS’s favorite composers over the group’s first 14 seasons, including pieces by Brahms, Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Rachmaninoff and Verdi.  

The performance will be the group's second collaboration with James Kennerly.  Mr. Kennerly has performed at many of the major venues in Europe and the US and has been a prizewinner at several competitions.   A native of the United Kingdom, he was educated at Cambridge University where he was Organ Scholar at Jesus College and then appointed Organ Scholar of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London.  Mr. Kennerly is also in much demand as a conductor having made his debut in 2009 at Lincoln Center.  He will accompany the chorus on the Church’s magnificent von Beckerath pipe organ.

Benjamin Niemczyk, the group's conductor and Artistic Director, said he believed the concert would be especially enjoyable for audiences with its presentation of a varied selection of choral music's "greatest hits." "Preparation for this concert was challenging, but very enjoyable for our singers," he said.  Mr. Niemczyk said some of the pieces, like Verdi’s “Stabat Mater, the longest individual selection on the program, "are rarely performed, but spectacular.”

The Westchester Oratorio Society is in its fourteenth season, its fourth under Mr. Niemczyk’s baton.  The group is known for its local performances of early music, traditional choral masterworks and contemporary pieces accompanied by professional soloists and orchestras, as well as appearances in the New York metropolitan area including with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

The Oratorio Society will be holding its annual gala on the evening of the concert. The event will feature cuisine from many of the countries represented by composers featured in the concert and Jazz from the American Songbook with Jane Buchi and Peter Buchi. More information is available at the group's website, www.westchesteroratorio.org.

The Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco is at 605 Millwood Rd. (Rte. 133) Mt. Kisco, NY. Tickets for the performance which begins at 4 PM are $20 for general admission $40 preferred seating and may be purchased through the group's website .  For more information call 914-763-9389, email westchesteroratorio@gmail.com or visit the group’s website at www.westchesteroratorio.org.