Comments on: Shofar Highlights Concert with Coro Allegro at Sanders

By: Michael Chusid

Michael Chusid — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:24:41 +0000

There is a growing use of shofar in contemporary art music. Volume Three of Hearing Shofar: The Still Small Voice of the Ram’s Horn has a chapter on shofar in music. It can be downloaded at http://www.hearingshofar.com.

By: Catherine Madsen

Catherine Madsen — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:33:32 +0000

The librettist also has street cred in GLBT-land, supposing that to be of any interest whatever in the 21st-century arts world. I hadn’t thought about it when I was working on the libretto, and I doubt that Bob Stern did, but the duet between Moses and God in part 4 did acquire an interesting gay penumbra when sung in the context of Coro; that must count for something. But politics is predictable and boring, whereas making good music is never the same twice, and I’m with Coro in opting for the latter. Composer Ned Rorem once remarked that music is queerer than any kind of sex.

By: Donald Wilkinson

Donald Wilkinson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:21:04 +0000

I also think Chris M’s comments are unusual. I support Coro Allegro’s mission. The music making was First Class. I was one of the GAY soloists!

By: Robert K

Robert K — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:19:56 +0000

I find Chris M’s comment rather strange. I was a (straight) ringer in the first performance of Shofar in 2006. Though in the “minority”, I found myself most comfortable with the group, for its purpose was and is as you stated, NOT to emphasize being gay. I believe my friends in the chorus would concur with my viewpoint. However, the gay part is celebrated by Coro after the regular season during Gay Pride Week and at periodic festivals/gatherings of gay choruses from all over the world. If there is differentiation, it is, one more time, in the quality of music making. No hypocrisy in this whatever. Another quality group you may be aware of is the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. But again, it’s not the gayness, it’s the music!

By: Leslie Lawrence

Leslie Lawrence — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:51:43 +0000

One of the strongest concerts I’ve heard in while. No weak links.
Ambitious programming, stretching us all.
Thank you.

By: Chris M

Chris M — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:50:19 +0000

Coro Allegro may be Boston’s only mixed chorus for members and friends of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities dedicated to “building social and musical bridges through high-quality performances of significant choral works,” but nothing in the chorus’s repertoire speaks to the LGBT experience. For an ensemble to call itself gay but sing nothing about what it’s like to be gay borders on hypocrisy, and therefore, there’s really nothing to differentiate Coro Allegro from Back Bay Chorale, Cecelia, or frankly, any chancel choir that’s on its game.