(Boston) The Handel and Haydn Society will celebrate the 160th anniversary of the very first Emancipation Proclamation Concert with a free performance at the Historic Trinity Church in Boston’s Copley Square. This year’s Emancipation Proclamation Concert will feature members of the H+H orchestra and chorus and will be led by Resident Conductor Dr. Anthony Trecek-King. Part of Boston’s First Night celebration, the performance takes place at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 31. The concert is free and open to the public.
The Emancipation Proclamation Concert offers an afternoon of music and storytelling on the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech in 1863. It has become a tradition for many families across Boston as they prepare to ring in the New Year. In its tenth year, the concert continues to be a collaboration between the Handel and Haydn Society and the Museum of African American History, two organizations dedicated to preserving and showcasing history, commemorating Boston’s historic central role in the abolition movement, celebrating the spirit of progress for human rights, and recognizing the role of music in creating alliance and belonging.
“The Museum of African-American History Boston and Nantucket is honored to continue our long-standing New Year’s tradition and relationship with the Handel and Haydn Society,” said Gerard Cox, Director of the Museum of African American History. “This annual program commemorates that joy filled day and affirms music as a way to challenge our spirit and unite us, said Sylvia Stevens-Edouard, MAAH Board Chair.”
This year’s concert will showcase several spirituals including “In This Lan’,” “Deep River,” “I Want to Go Home,” and works by A.G. Duncan, Mendelssohn, Handel, JS Bach, Evelyn Simpson-Curenton and Stacey V. Gibbs. This year, the repertoire was selected to fit the theme of water.
“For the enslaved African population, the struggle for freedom and the longing for home and sanctuary began on water,” said Dr. Anthony Trecek-King. “Through our discussions with the Museum of African American History, these themes emerged as a focal point for this year’s Emancipation Proclamation Concert and inspired many of our selections. It was a joy to pair well-known spirituals, such as Deep River and Wade in the Water, with the music of Handel and Mendelssohn.”
Members of H+H performed at the first Emancipation Proclamation celebration in Boston in 1863. This year’s performance will include narration by National Poetry Slam Champion Regie Gibson, reading of passages from the Emancipation Proclamation and a reading from Isis Whitney-Payne, a member of the Handel and Haydn Youth Choruses. The concert marks the return to Trinity Church for H+H following two years of online performances due to the pandemic.
The Emancipation Proclamation Concert is supported by the Debbie and Bob First Family Fund for Community Engagement, Jim and Cathy Stone, and Cambridge Trust.
 The 2022-23 Season
A Baroque Christmas                        December 15 + 18                 NEC Jordan Hall
Beethoven + Mozart                          January 6 + 8                          Symphony Hall
Beethoven Eroica                              January 20 + 22                      Symphony Hall
Bach Brandenburg Concertos            February 17 + 19                     NEC Jordan Hall + Sanders Theatre
Mozart + Mendelssohn                     March 17 + 19                        NEC’s Jordan Hall
Bach Easter Oratorio                         March 31 + April 2                 Symphony Hall
Crossing the Deep                             June 1 + 4                                  JFK Presidential Library and Museum
Subscription packages are also available and may be purchased by calling 617-262-1815 or visiting handelandhaydn.org.
About the Handel and Haydn Society
Boston’s Grammy-winning Handel and Haydn Society is dedicated to performing Baroque and Classical music with a freshness, a vitality, and a creativity that inspires all ages. H+H has been captivating audiences for 208 consecutive seasons (the most of any performing arts organization in the United States). Today, H+H’s Orchestra and Chorus delight more than 50,000 listeners annually with a nine-week subscription series at Boston Symphony Hall and other leading venues. Through the Karen S. and George D. Levy Education Program, H+H supports seven youth choirs of singers in grades 2-12 and provides thousands of complimentary tickets to students and communities throughout Boston, ensuring the joy of music is accessible to all. H+H’s numerous free community concerts include an annual commemoration of the original 1863 Emancipation Proclamation concert on December 31. H+H has released 16 CDs on the Coro label and has toured nationally and internationally. In all these ways, H+H fulfills its mission to inspire the intellect, touch the heart, elevate the soul, and connect us with our shared humanity through transformative experiences with Baroque and Classical music.
About the Museum of African American History
The Museum of African American History is New England’s largest museum dedicated to preserving, conserving and interpreting the contributions of African Americans. In Boston and Nantucket, the Museum has preserved four historic sites and two Black Heritage Trails® that tell the story of organized black communities from the Colonial Period through the 19th century. For more information, visit: http://maah.org/
###
