In the next year you will be hearing a lot about Benjamin Britten, one of the great English composers, whose centenary will be celebrated in 2013. The Metropolitan Chorale of Brookline, the community choir I sing with, will be performing Britten’s cantata, Saint Nicolas, on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 8 pm at All Saints Parish, 1773 Beacon St., Brookline. The cantata is Britten’s joyful and moving setting of some of the legends of the historical St. Nicholas, and it will feature tenor Jonas Budris in the title role.

I don’t want to give the rest of the program short shrift. We will be singing two Advent pieces: first, Bach’s cantata, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61, with soloists Jonas Budris, tenor, Dana Schnitzer, soprano and Matthew Wight, baritone, and second, Brahms’s motet, O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf, Op. 74 no. 2. Everyone needs a little Bach in their lives, so if you’re in town, please do come! Tickets are $25 at the door ($20 for seniors and students) or $20 from me in advance. If you’d like one, please let me know.

Credit: Wikipedia