Camerata d'Amici presents, "Let My Love Be Heard"

Camerata d’Amici is proud to present “Let My Love be Heard” on May 22 at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 6 Ivy Hill Road, Ridgefield, Connecticut. The choir, now in its tenth season, is excited to welcome everyone to its annual spring concert. Dr. Kristin Sponheim, Artistic Director, has crafted a stirring program inspired by love, both divine and human.

The concert opens with music inspired by divine love. The women of Camerata sing Alice Parker’s arrangement of the tender Ladino lullaby “Durme, Durme.” The comfort we feel from God’s love and protection is captured in the traditional Irish hymn “Be Thou My Vision” (arranged by Kinley Lange) and “God Will Give Orders & Sweet Child” (by Canadian composer Sarah Quartel). The rich timbre of cello accompanies these pieces, along with piano and percussion. The first half ends with the haunting piece “Let My Love Be Heard” (Jake Runestad), sung a cappella.

The second half of the program continues with music devoted to the love we share with each other. It opens with a setting by American composer Stephen Paulus for men’s voices of the famous sonnet by William Shakespeare, “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” Shawn Kirchner’s setting of “Tu Voz” (Your Voice), a sonnet by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, will be sung by the chamber ensemble of Camerata. The familiar folk song “Shenandoah,” expressing longing and love in the face of loss, is beautifully arranged by James Erb. The program closes with “Sing Me To Heaven” by Daniel Gawthrop, an ode to the power of music in our lives, and “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal,” a setting by Alice Parker of an early American shape note hymn.

Soloists in Sunday’s concert include Ridgefielders Juliet Pratt, soprano and Michael Forbes, bass, as well as Danbury resident Thomas Carr, baritone.

The choir will be accompanied by Margarita Nuller, piano; Mary Costanza, cello; Joe Meo, clarinet, and Matt Bronson, percussion.

For more information on purchasing tickets, Camerata d’Amici invites you to visit their website at www.cameratadamici.org. Tickets are also available via check payable to Camerata d’Amici, P.O. Box 74, Ridgefield, CT 06877. Tickets at the door are $25 for adults (or $20 in advance), and $10 for children 12 and under. Follow Camerata on Twitter @camerata_damici and Facebook.