Visions of Hope

William Grant Still Symphony No. 2 Song of a New Race

Margaret Bonds Credo

Mary D. Watkins Dark River: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story

Brianna J. Robinson, soprano

Nicholas Lagesse, baritone

Tianhui Ng and Dr. Allegra Martin lead the PVS Orchestra and Chorus in our 85th season finale featuring the music of three African American composers looking with hope toward a just future.

Concert length is approximately 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission.

PVS' resident musicologist, Dr. David Schneider, Georges Lurcy Professor of Music & History at Amherst College, joins us at 6PM for a pre-concert talk.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM: William Grant Still's second Symphony, Song of a New Race, describes elements of the African American experience through history and brings classical Western orchestral composition together with blues and jazz to paint a united future for a diverse America.

In “Credo,” prolific composer Margaret Bonds sets W. E. B. Du Bois’ prose poem to sensitive and powerful music, sung by the PVS Chorus with soloists Brianna J. Robinson and Nicholas LaGesse.

Mary D. Watkins’ “Dark River” tells the story of Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer’s fight for justice and racial equality. This moving opera reflects the complexity and emotion of the time period through interwoven elements of jazz, blues, and gospel. The PVS Chorus will be performing selections featuring Brianna J. Robinson as the title role.

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THIS SEASON, WE ARE OFFERING CONCERT TICKETS ON A SLIDING SCALE TO HELP MAKE THE JOY OF MUSIC EQUITABLY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. Tickets for all concerts can now be purchased at a $15-$35 scale. The seats are general admission, regardless of which you choose.

The suggested ticket price is $25. Choose a higher price to pay it forward and help us support accessibility for all. Choose a lower price for a discounted ticket, based on your financial need. Youth up to age 18 and college students of any age are still just $5.

WIC and EBT cardholders may attend PVS concerts for free through Mass Cultural Council's Card for Culture program. Contact the Box Office for more information: boxoffice@pvso.org or (413) 773-3664. Free family tickets are available through the Museum Pass program at more than 30 local libraries!