The Choral Society of the Hamptons’ summer concert on Sunday will feature a broad scope of musical styles, including three premieres and highlighting a brand-new arrangement of songs by the legendary Beatles, with an overall theme of Songs From the Heart. The concert starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, and will see the return of Judith Clurman, resident conductor, directing about 70 voices, four vocal soloists, a string quartet, and piano.
One of Samuel Barber’s most often heard works, “Sure on This Shining Night,” will open the program, with its neo-Romantic lyricism and thoughtful reflection on a summer evening.
The New York premiere of a work recently composed by Ms. Clurman, “Listen to the World,” will be next. Based on a text by William Schermerhorn, a two-time Emmy Award-winning songwriter, it speaks of the need for empathy and listening in the present day. And a world premiere of Matthew Sklar’s “Hymn to the Earth” also sets a text by Mr. Schermerhorn.
Some American folk songs that may be familiar to many, “Long Time Ago,” “Simple Gifts,” and “Zion’s Walls,” will be heard as arranged by Aaron Copland, as well as a new arrangement of “Shenandoah” by Bill Cutter.
A fresh and novel endeavor will cap the early evening program: the world premiere of an arrangement of Beatles songs that was commissioned by the Choral Society. The 12-movement choral cycle, arranged by David Chase, who has been the music director, supervisor, or arranger for 35 Broadway productions, is titled “Places I Remember — Love Songs by the Beatles.”
Speaking of how the rock group influenced the broader music world, Ms. Clurman said recently, “The Beatles had such an impact on the way we listened to music, and their poetry was as important.” In this setting, the memorable melodies of Lennon and McCartney, treated with the colors and range of the full chorus and string quartet, will reimagine the songs on an emotional journey through the many forms of love.
Ms. Clurman is the music director of Essential Voices USA, teaches voice at the Manhattan School of Music, edits two choral series for the Hal Leonard publishing company, and has commissioned new works by over 70 composers.
The pianist for the concert is Jeremy Robin Lyons, who recently served as conductor and music director for the 2021-23 national tour of “Anastasia,” and before that was a keyboardist for the national tour of “The Sound of Music,” playing in more than 50 cities.
Four vocal soloists are returning from the Choral Society’s Mozart program last year: Amy Justman, Heather Jones, Jason Weisinger, and Joseph Beutel. The string quartet will consist of Song-A Cho, violin; Ann Bermont, violin; Christopher Shaughnessy, viola, and James Acampora, cello — all of whom appear often with the Choral Society and frequently throughout Long Island.
Tickets are $35, $75 for preferred seating, and $10 for students, at choralsocietyofthehamptons.org or 631-204-9402. Tickets are usually available at the door, although the society’s executive director, Maria Fumai Dietrich, has said that this time tickets are expected to sell out beforehand.
