March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 51 F

Free Music At St. Anne’s In April And May

music-notes1The free “Thursdays at 6” music series at St. Anne’s Church goes international as it begins its April-May lineup of concerts.

Thursday, April 4, at 6 p.m., features the all-male Swiss choir Le Chœur des Armaillis de la Gruyère.  First formed in 1955, the group includes singers from the farmlands of the Alps near Gruyère/Bulle.   Performing in Swiss traditional costumes, this versatile group’s repertoire includes Swiss mountain songs, Gregorian chant, sacred music and contemporary works.  On tour in the United States and sponsored by the Swiss Embassy, this group is internationally recognized and have released several CDs.  This is the first time this group has appeared in Annapolis.

Thursday, April 11, at 6 p.m., features Cecile B. DeMille’s 1927 silent film classic “The King of Kings.”  This groundbreaking film by one of Hollywood’s true pioneers includes all the pageantry and spectacle of a DeMille movie and showcases one of filmdom’s first innovations, an early colorization technique used to depict the Resurrection.  Providing the live music for the film is organist Larry Molinaro, who will perform an improvised score on St. Anne’s Freiburg organ.   Mr. Molinaro loves playing for movies and is the genius behind the music heard at October’s annual screening of the silent “Phantom of the Opera” at St. Anne’s.  Due to the length of the film, this evening’s event will run approximately one hour and fifty minutes. (This is the shorter version of the film that was re-cut for general release in 1928).

With spring in full bloom, May’s concerts will feature:

  • May 2 – United States Naval Academy Band Saxophonist MU1 Doug O’Connor
  • May 16 – The Capital Reeds, Washington DC’s premier reed trio
  • May 23 -The United States Army Field Band Woodwind Ambassadors
  • May 24 – Guitarist Peter Griggs

These free concerts offer wonderful and varied musical experiences for fans of all ages.   Over the years, the series has welcomed members of the National Symphony Orchestra, classical guitarists, groups from Cuba, Canada, Colombia and the Czech Republic as well as several musicians from Russia, local musicians and bands, vocalists and service bands.  Running just one-hour, the Thursday concerts leave plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the evening in Annapolis.  Informal and personal, the concerts also give everyone the opportunity to talk to the performers after each concert.  Other concerts are planned throughout the summer.

Also part of the music offered by St. Anne’s is The “12 Minutes at 12:12” series on Wednesdays with St. Anne’s organist Carolene Winter.  Each week they offer free, fast lunchtime breaks that offer a mid-day retreat with a short concert in a very tranquil setting.

The St. Anne’s Concert Series is presented by Live Arts Maryland, J. Ernest Green, Music Director, in partnership with St. Anne’s Parish, Rev. Dr. Amy E. Richter, Rector.  For more information the series and the artists, visit www.liveartsmaryland.org or call 410-263-1906.  Live Arts Maryland receives support from the Maryland State Arts Council, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, the City of Annapolis and CapitalOne Bank.

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