Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Cantata Singers and Ensemble is a classical music ensemble based in Boston, Massachusetts. The group was founded in 1964 by a group of musicians and music lovers who were passionate about performing the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers of the Baroque era. The founding members of Cantata Singers and Ensemble included conductor and harpsichordist H. Max Smith, soprano Nancy Armstrong, and tenor William Hite. The group quickly gained a reputation for their high-quality performances of Bach's cantatas, which were often performed in their original liturgical context. Over the years, Cantata Singers and Ensemble has expanded their repertoire to include works by other composers of the Baroque era, as well as works from the Classical and Romantic periods. The group has also commissioned new works from contemporary composers, including John Harbison, Yehudi Wyner, and John Adams. One of the highlights of Cantata Singers and Ensemble's history was their performance of Bach's complete sacred cantatas, which they performed over the course of several seasons in the 1980s and 1990s. This ambitious project was a major undertaking, requiring the group to perform over 200 cantatas in total. Cantata Singers and Ensemble has also collaborated with other musical organizations in the Boston area, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Handel and Haydn Society. In 2014, the group celebrated their 50th anniversary with a special concert featuring works by Bach, Handel, and Mozart. Throughout their history, Cantata Singers and Ensemble has received numerous awards and accolades for their performances. In 1991, the group was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts' prestigious "American Masterpieces" grant, which supported their performances of Bach's cantatas. The group has also been recognized by the Boston Music Awards and the Boston Globe. Today, Cantata Singers and Ensemble continues to be a leading voice in the Boston classical music scene. The group is led by conductor David Hoose, who has been with the ensemble since 1985. Under Hoose's leadership, Cantata Singers and Ensemble has continued to push the boundaries of classical music performance, while remaining true to their roots in the music of Bach and the Baroque era.

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