What a gloomy week… luckily, I’ve got a few pick-me-ups for you! I also bet there are plenty of you who haven’t bought your mom a present yet; any of these would be great events to bring her to! Check out this weekend’s Newton Culture Fix!
FRIDAY
Twelfth Night
Theatre Ink*
May 10-12 at 7:30pm | $8
I love Twelfth Night. Besides being one of Shakespeare’s most easily approachable comedies for high schoolers, it is really just hysterical. Cross-dressing love triangles, drunkards, and every level of comedy! I am truly looking forward to this one though for me the greatest memory of it will always be on my last day of real student teaching, my class finished the play and somehow I convinced a room full of 16 year olds that we should all sing the Fool’s final song together. It was amazing. Go see this show, you’ll laugh and you’ll love it.
Book and Author Luncheon hosted by the Friends of the Newton Free Library
Newton Free Library
Friday, May 11 at 11am
Marriott Hotel Boston Newton | $40
This is the type of event I always find out about too late… but you don’t have to share that regret, you can attend! The Friends of the Newton Free Library are pleased to present local authors Dennis Lehane and Mitchell Zuckoff at the 28th Book and Author Luncheon.
Dennis Lehane grew up in Boston and is the author of many international bestsellers including Shutter Island, Gone, Baby, Gone, and Mystic River (coincidentally all three of these have also been produced as major films).
Mitchell Zuckoff lives in Newton and is a professor of journalism at Boston University. He is the author of Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II. Published in April 2011, the book spent more than two months on The New York Times’ bestseller list and was named one of the Best Books of 2011 by Amazon.com and many more.
SATURDAY
Outside the Walls
Cappella Clausura*
Saturday, May 12 at 8pm | $15-$25
Parish of the Messiah
From Cappella Clausura: So those nuns published their music, right? Who bought it? And who sang it? We’ll bring you works – some familiar by now, and some still new – by the mistresses of early baroque composition: Chiara Cozzolani, Raffaella Aleotti, Bianca Maria Meda, Caterina Assandra, and Sulpitia Cesis. Hear their works as they might have been performed outside of the convents, in homes and churches, by women AND men, together.
The Splendor of Bach
Newton Choral Society*
Saturday, May 12 at 8pm | $25
Holy Name Parish, West Roxbury
Newton Choral Society is one of Newton’s arts groups who have had to move their performances outside of the city because of the venue/space issues within city limits. That being said, trek yourself on out to West Rox to enjoy a rich array of Bach’s choral music, including one of his most ambitious motets, Singet dem Herrn for double chorus, along with Himmelskönig sei willkommen, one of Bach’s earliest cantatas featuring an unusual orchestration, with recorder, a single violin, two violas, plus cello and organ. Cantata 51, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, a jubilant and virtuosic soprano cantata, will be performed by Susan Consoli.
SUNDAY (Mother’s Day!)
Moms love spending time with you. Treat them to a show!
Music from the Underworld
Walden Chamber Players
Sunday, May 13 at 4pm
Andover Newton Theological School | $15
These musicians are terrific and a true treat to hear! Set off on a journey with the Walden Chamber Players across the river Styx and explore some of the music that was inspired by The Great Beyond. Program will include works by Pergolesi, Stravinsky, Tartini and Schubert and feature soprano Kristin Watson.
Evensong
Church of the Redeemer Chamber Choir
Sunday, May 13 at 5pm
Church of the Redeemer | FREE
Connect with the sacred. The choir will sing music by Charles Villiers Stanford, Henryk Górecki, Henry Balfour Gardiner, Robert Lehman and others. Sacred music events are always without charge; there will be a wine & cheese reception to follow in the Parish Hall.
And that’s it for the weekend! If I missed anything please post it in the comments.
*=Newton Cultural Alliance member
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and your mom!
(Please enjoy one of my favorite poems celebrating all the moms out there – Billy Collins’ “The Lanyard”)
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