Organization
Boston Choral Ensemble
The Boston Choral Ensemble, one of New England's premiere chamber choirs, is an auditioned, mixed-voice ensemble dedicated to providing opportunities for singers and audiences to enjoy and learn about challenging, high-quality choral music. Our programs are recognized for their innovative blend of repertoire from across many centuries interspersed with regular commentary from the singers. Under the direction of music director Miguel Felipe, the group presents six to ten performances each season in the greater Boston area including three free programs in Copley Square. The Ensemble has several community outreach partners and sponsors the region's largest commissioning competition with an annual award supporting the creation of new works for chamber choir.
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At-a-
Glance
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Current &
Upcoming Events
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Past
Events
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Past Events
| 06/06/10 |
Beg Borrow Steal
Old South Church, Boston
Presented by Boston Choral Ensemble
at Old South Church, Boston
June 6, 2010
In the final concert of our 9th season, the BCE will explore the numerous ways in which musical parody and borrowing have been used by composers to enrich and inspire new works. BEG|BORROW|STEAL highlights interesting examples of musical parody ranging from a 21st century mass that quotes Monteverdi to a Scandinavian response to Purcell’s familiar Hear My Prayer, O Lord. The concert culminates with the world premiere from our 3rd Annual Commission Competition....
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| 06/04/10 |
Beg Borrow Steal
First Church in Cambridge, Congregational
Presented by Boston Choral Ensemble
at First Church in Cambridge, Congregational
June 4, 2010
In the final concert of our 9th season, the BCE will explore the numerous ways in which musical parody and borrowing have been used by composers to enrich and inspire new works. BEG|BORROW|STEAL highlights interesting examples of musical parody ranging from a 21st century mass that quotes Monteverdi to a Scandinavian response to Purcell’s familiar Hear My Prayer, O Lord. The concert culminates with the world premiere of our 3rd Annual Commission Competition....
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| 03/07/10 |
Tenebræ
Old South Church, Boston
Presented by Boston Choral Ensemble
at Old South Church, Boston
March 7, 2010
Avg. Event Rating (4.8 Stars): 
Amidst the darkness of winter, the Boston Choral Ensemble brings new light to the traditional Tenebræ service with a concert of diverse musical works united by common themes of reflection, suffering, and redemption. The Lenten service of Tenebræ, once sung on the final three evenings of the Catholic Holy Week, is marked by the gradual extinguishing of candles while a series of readings and psalms are delivered. These readings are drawn from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, the...
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| 03/05/10 |
Tenebræ
First Church in Cambridge, Congregational
Presented by Boston Choral Ensemble
at First Church in Cambridge, Congregational
March 5, 2010
Amidst the darkness of winter, the Boston Choral Ensemble brings new light to the traditional Tenebræ service with a concert of diverse musical works united by common themes of reflection, suffering, and redemption. The Lenten service of Tenebræ, once sung on the final three evenings of the Catholic Holy Week, is marked by the gradual extinguishing of candles while a series of readings and psalms are delivered. These readings are drawn from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, the...
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| 11/22/09 |
Villarosa Sequences
Old South Church, Boston
Presented by Boston Choral Ensemble
at Old South Church, Boston
November 22, 2009
Avg. Event Rating (5.0 Stars):
For the Boston Choral Ensemble, a new year means bringing brand new music to Boston, this time all the way from Sweden. BCE is excited to open our 9th season with the first complete North American performance of Thomas Jennefelt’s Villarosa Sequences, featuring soprano soloist Teresa Wakim. Jennefelt’s seven-movement symphony for voices combines the meditative qualities of minimalist tone clusters with the drama of vibrant melodic lines to craft a unique choral...
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| 11/20/09 |
Villarosa Sequences
First Church in Cambridge, Congregational
Presented by Boston Choral Ensemble
at First Church in Cambridge, Congregational
November 20, 2009
Avg. Event Rating (5.0 Stars):
For the Boston Choral Ensemble, a new year means bringing brand new music to Boston, this time all the way from Sweden. BCE is excited to open our 9th season with the first complete North American performance of Thomas Jennefelt’s Villarosa Sequences, featuring soprano soloist Teresa Wakim. Jennefelt’s seven-movement symphony for voices combines the meditative qualities of minimalist tone clusters with the drama of vibrant melodic lines to craft a unique choral...
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06/05/09-
06/07/09 |
Meditations
Old South Church, Boston
Presented by Boston Choral Ensemble
at Old South Church, Boston
June 5-June 7, 2009
The Boston Choral Ensemble is pleased to present MEDITATIONS - an innovative program featuring four choral works from the last 15 years in which Western composers set Eastern texts. The program features two world premiere performances, including the winner of our 2nd Annual Commission Competition. BCE's MEDITATIONS brings East and West together in an extraordinary concert experience.
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03/06/09-
03/08/09 |
VOCES LATINAS
Old South Church, Boston
Presented by Boston Choral Ensemble
at Old South Church, Boston
March 6-March 8, 2009
The Boston Choral Ensemble presents VOCES LATINAS, a program of contemporary choral works by Latin American composers, that continues BCE's tradition of combining familiar and unknown works in innovative programs. VOCES LATINAS features Alberto Ginastera's Lamentations of Jeremiah, a dramatic and haunting work written in the US during Ginastera's political exile from his native Argentina. The program also includes works from Brazil (Hector Villa-lobos' Bendita Sabedoria) and Mexico...
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Media
Reviews
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Member
Reviews
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Member Reviews
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Event Name: Tenebræ
"Tenebrae"
Review
posted by:
Janet
from Boxborough MA,
Mar 14, 2010
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Event Name: Tenebræ
"BCE Knocks one out of the park!"
Review
posted by:
Connoisseur Tom
from Boston, MA,
Mar 12, 2010
In the latest show of its current season, the BCE delivered a gem of a show, the dark and solemn music of Tenebræ juxtaposed with the uniquely fitting poetry of modern songwriter, Bob Dylan. The stark beauty of the soloists and duets peppered throughout the performance showcased the immense talent this group has to work with. We all left the concert feeling at peace, inspired, and greatly looking forward to the Boston Choral Ensemble's next show.
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Event Name: Tenebræ
"Outstanding Performance"
Review
posted by:
Amber
from Medford, MA USA,
Mar 11, 2010
I was very impressed with the Boston Chorale Ensemble's show. I enjoyed the music for it's beautiful composition and excellent performance. I was so pleased by the creativity of choosing the Tenebrae and presenting it in a secular way with spiritual readings that both complimented the music and could appeal to anyone. The Ensemble is excellent all around and I would highly recommend attending one of their performances.
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All reviews/comments and complete event details
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Event Name: Villarosa Sequences
"Brilliant programing, stunning soprano!"
Review
posted by:
Beth Willer
from Cambridge, MA,
Jan 07, 2010
It is always refreshing to attend a concert in Boston
exposing new and interesting repertoire. Featuring
the incredibly clear and brilliant solo voice of
soprano Tess Wakim at its center, the choral
movements framed the piece with an elevated
"soundscape" of ethereal and anonymous beauty
throughout. Led by conductor Miguel Felipe, the
choir executed this layering of rhythmic and
melodic ostinato with admirable precision and
confidence. I will make a point to attend BCE's
concerts in the future!
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All reviews/comments and complete event details
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Event Name: Villarosa Sequences
"Never Heard Anything Like This!"
Review
posted by:
Aaron
from Somerville, MA,
Nov 24, 2009
I was expecting typical choral music and was blown away at the atmospheric and chilling aural landscape created by this masterful group of talented vocalists! I couldn't get the tunes out of my head, I just wanted to close my eyes and enter blissful nirvana as the surreal soundscaping crafted an illusory dreamworld unlike anything from my wildest dreams. BCE is amazing and I would recommend their performances to anyone with an open mind for amazing expertly delivered choral music.
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Event Name: Villarosa Sequences
"A truly wonderful experience!"
Review
posted by:
Maggie M
from South Hadley MA,
Nov 23, 2009
From the first moment of this performance, I was captivated. The quality and tone of the Boston Choral Ensemble was sublime. Each voice complimented each other. Jennefelt’s music was breath-taking in its subtle complexity. At moments the music sounded like water rushing over a water fall; at others like a heartbeat lulling me to sleep; at still others it sounded as though a shimmering silver mist hung over the singers. I have not been able to think of anything else since I left the concert hall. The soloist, Teresa Wakim, was magnificent. The assiduous attention to detail and, I’m sure, countless hours of preparation on both the soloist’s and the BCE’s parts resulted in an extraordinary performance.
Thank you Thomas Jennefelt, the Boston Choral Ensemble, Teresa Wakim and Miguel Felipe for this truly wonderful experience. I’m looking forward to hearing more!
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Event Name: Villarosa Sequences
"Excellent blend of old and new"
Review
posted by:
Brian
from Cambridge, MA,
Nov 23, 2009
I'm by no means an aficionado of choral
performances, but the BCE's Villarosa Sequences
was an enjoyable blend of traditional choral music
with something like trance music. I'd highly
recommend attending future performances--a
spring performance of interpretations of Bob Dylan
songs promises to be fascinating.
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Event Name: Villarosa Sequences
"Sunday's performance of Villarosa Sequences"
Review
posted by:
Janet Wolahan
from Boxborough MA,
Nov 23, 2009
Having thoroughly enjoyed Friday's performance of Jennefelt's astounding music, I expected great things on Sunday. I was not disappointed! Another powerful and exquisite performance by BCE and Wakim. I was again transported by the blend of modern and medieval sound. Sometimes lulled by gorgeously rendered repeated motifs; at other times soaring over imagined other-earthly landscapes. Powerful and evocative music, a continual awakening to my delighted ear. Bravissimo and thank you BCE, Wakim, Jennefelt!!!
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Event Name: Villarosa Sequences
"Villarosa Seqeunces"
Review
posted by:
Janet Wolahan
from Boxborough, MA,
Nov 23, 2009
I was thrilled by this gorgeous and unusual musical performance. The effect on me was hypnotic. The voices were exquisite, the solo soprano superb, the music evocative and hauntingly beautiful. To my pleasant surprise, I awoke the next morning with many of its delightful passages playing in my head! Unlike many audience members, I was already somewhat familiar with this music because I was given an opportunity ahead of time to hear a recording of it by another choral group. I believe this helped me to enjoy the music more fully. I was able to look forward to each passage as it unfolded, with a more attuned ear and without the anxiety of getting used to the strangeness of the music. I hope that BCE will make their own recording available to the public. I would love to hear it again!
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