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Bernstein's Chichester Psalms with the PSO

 

Catch the Mendelssohn Choir on the second half of the concerts this weekend performing Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, followed by Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait narrated by Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham.



Though written in different eras, these works speak to one another in remarkable ways. Bernstein composed Chichester Psalms during a time of growing unrest surrounding the Vietnam War. The work ultimately turns toward peace, concluding with the words of Psalm 133: "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity."


That message resonates deeply alongside Lincoln Portrait, in which Copland brings Abraham Lincoln's words and ideals to life through music. At a moment when our nation was divided by civil war, Lincoln called Americans to remember what united them. His words continue to speak across generations.

Did you catch our 2026-27 season announcement last week?

Lincoln's presence will also be felt in our newly announced season. In our first program of the season, we will perform the Pittsburgh premiere of Florence Price's Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight, a moving work that imagines Lincoln returning to witness a world still grappling with conflict and asking whether we have learned from the past.


The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh's 2026-2027 season will explore themes of conflict, community, grief, and hope through music that invites reflection and connection. As we have rehearsed for this weekend's performances with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, we've been struck by how many of those same themes are already present in the music we'll share on stage this Friday and Sunday.

And if you missed last week's announcement, we invite you to explore our newly announced 2026-2027 season. We look forward to sharing another year of meaningful music-making with you.


Warmly,

Daniel Singer

Robert Page Music Director

The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh

THE MENDELSSOHN CHOIR OF PITTSBURGH

Full Staff Listing

Contact the Mendelssohn


Cameron Gunsbury-Massey, Executive Director    Daniel Singer, Music Director


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