Beerkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra Spring 2025 Concert

Submitted by the Event Organizer

PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

For further information, call 510-433-9599 or email Jan M, publicity chair, at jmsings17@gmail.com. Also see website: https:/www.bcco.org

The Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra (BCCO) is excited to announce the program for its Spring 2025 Concert Series, Friday May 30—Sunday June 1:

St. John of Damascus, by Sergei Taneyev

Requiem, by Camille Saint-Saëns

Performances take place at Hertz Hall on the UC Berkeley campus.

Friday, May 30 (at 7:30 pm)

Saturday, May 31 (at 3 pm) and

Sunday, June 1 (at 3 pm)

The concerts are free. Donations in support of these concerts are gratefully accepted.

Maestro Ming Luke leads the chorus, full orchestra, and four soloists who join the nearly 60-year-old chorus in this rare performance.

Ellen Leslie, soprano

Sara Couden, contralto

Brian Thorsett, tenor

Simon Barrad, baritone

“For our spring 2025 concert series, the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra (BCCO) explores two brilliant but lesser-known works of compositional genius, Sergei Taneyev’s St. John of Damascus and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Requiem. St. John of Damascus was Taneyev’s first published work; it immediately placed him in the upper echelons of composers during his day,” says Maestro Luke.

Saint-Saëns, known mostly for his orchestral works, wrote the Requiem to honor his great friend and benefactor, Albert Libon.

Saint-Saëns’ biographer, Jacques Bonnaure, noted in his 2010 book: “This unjustly neglected Requiem is perhaps the most sensitive, imaginative, and perfect work by the composer, who finds here, more than ever before, a classical balance between form and expression, innovation and tradition, sophisticated compositional style and immediate effect.”

“Both works deserve to be performed more often, and it’s a treat for BCCO to explore these significant works,” says Ming.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.