During March, the Boston Symphony Orchestra presented three weeks of concerts titled Festival: Voices of Loss, Reckoning and Hope. The music presented during those weeks explored themes of cultural belonging and social justice and reflected issues of racial and gender equality. The first concert, held on March 3, 4, and 5, was particularly meaningful for the Arlington Public Schools community since it included Beverly (Bella) V. Harris, Teaching Assistant at Menotomy Preschool, as a member of a chorus specifically assembled for the events.
Over 100 vocalists were chosen from 25 groups across the Boston area. Ms. Harris, who sings with The Boston Pops Gospel Choir, Joyful Voices of Inspiration Choir, and One City Choir, responded to an application she received and got a letter of acceptance to take part in the Catto Chorus. Her preparation included rehearsals at Symphony Hall throughout February, including those with the composer of the piece Uri Caine, conductor André Raphel, and BSO Choral Director and Conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus James Burton.
The piece that included the chorus is The Passion of Octavius Catto. This ten part composition tells the story of a 19th century Civil Rights leader in Philadelphia, an educator, community organizer, and star baseball player who was murdered on Election Day 1871. He was one of many Black citizens who were often denied the right to vote and subjected to mob violence and other indignities in the North during that period. Composer Caine learned about Mr. Catto and was inspired to write the work after discovering the biography Tasting Freedom: Octavius Catto and the Battle for Equality in Civil War America. The first performance of his piece was given by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2014 with Maestro Raphel conducting.
The performance included the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Catto Chorus, the Uri Caine Trio, and soloist Barbara Walker. Ms. Harris reports that it received a standing ovation each night. The program also included two works by Black composers: Petite Suite de Concert, by Samuel Coleridge and Symphony No. 1, “Afro-American”, by William Grant Still.
Ms.Harris shares that her singing career started to blossom after she began working for the Arlington Public Schools. It was a presentation of Happy Birthday to Menotorny Administrative Assistant Phyllis Mahoney that led to encouragement to audition for her first group. She sang on the Symphony Hall stage for the first time in 2019, and has this to say about her recent performance: “I am honored to have been given this opportunity to be a guest singer for this three-day production. This all seems surreal to me! To stand on stage and look out at all the beauty all around you simply takes your breath away. To me, it is the same feeling I have felt when a child in the Preschool reaches a milestone and I am fortunate enough to be part of the team which helped to shape and encourage the student.”
The entire concert is currently available on BSO NOW, and is presented in three episodes, the last of which is The Passion of Octavius Catto. Viewing is free to subscribers and non-subscribers. Go to www.bso.org, click on the triple bar menu in the top left yellow square, and choose BSO NOW at the bottom of the page.This brings you to a page with the options for streaming the recorded performances. Choose a method and when the concerts come up, watch the one by Maestro Raphel.