MUSIC

Coro Allegro and the United Parish Chancel Choir present the world premiere of Kareem Roustom's breathtaking new oratorio, The Son of Man.

Commissioned by United Parish in 2008, The Son of Man is based on Kahlil Gibran's book of poems, Jesus, the Son of Man, originally published in 1928. The six movements of the oratorio are voiced by characters, both biblical and imagined, who are contemporaries of Jesus, including Mary Magdalen, an elite Jewish scribe, and a neighbor of Jesus' mother Mary. The final text is by "A Man from Lebanon, Nineteen Centuries Later," understood to be the poet himself.

The oratorio dramatizes the characters' relationship with Jesus through a complex interplay of chorus, soloists, organ, percussion, harp, and trumpet. The music weaves authentic characteristics of the Arabic modal system and traditional Arabic dance rhythms, resulting in a synergy between western and Arabic music that recalls the unity embodied in a Jesus who is "greater than state and race... greater than revolution," who "wept all our unshed tears and smiled all our revolts."
Come and experience this uniquely moving piece of music, and witness this historic collaboration between Coro Allegro and the United Parish Chancel Choir.