Boston's LGBTQ+ and allied classical choir, Coro Allegro, and David Hodgkins, presents a program that confronts some of the worst of humanity, but ultimately shows a path to the best in us and our hopes for the future. The concert features the World Premiere of There Will Come Soft Rains, an anti-war composition that takes its title from Sara Teasdale's famous poem. Composed by the Emmy-nominated Syrian-American composer Kareem Roustom, the work is scored for chorus, orchestra and French horn. We're joined by horn plalyer Michael Bellofatto. An internationally acclaimed composer, Kareem Roustom is a Professor of Music at Tufts University. This is the second work that Coro Allegro has commissioned with Mr. Roustom and the third that we have premiered.

There Will Come Soft Rains sets to music  texts from the Bible and three poems by Andreas Gryphius, Annie Fields and Sara Teasdale. All four texts—spanning millennia of human experience—offer a response to and a reflection on a war that defined each author's time. This new work poses fundamental questions: Why do we fight wars again and again? Do we not realize what is at stake?

The concert continues with a new orchestral and expanded arrangement of Greg Bullen's sometimes dark, yet whimsical song cycle The Orchard.  Based on the poetry of William Carlos Williams, it includes the poem "This Is Just to Say." Coro premiered this work in its original instrumentation in 2013. We will be joined by baritone Aaron Engebreth and flute player Melissa Mielens.  Finally, we present two selections from Shawn Kirchner's Heavenly Home, which celebrates the hope and longed-for peace and joy of life after death. Anchored in  American spiritual music from the 19th century, the work draws on both the folks and shape note traditions to create a moving and uplifting a cappella choral experience.

We hope that you will join us for this extraordinary concert of music from our time. Bringing new compositions into the world is one of Coro Allegro's deepest joys. It will be a concert to be remembered. Please be sure to join us for a post-concert reception where you can meet the composers and visit with members of Coro Allegro.