Hail, Bright Cecilia! 50 years after Benjamin Britten
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November 22, 2026 falls at a rare convergence of anniversaries: the Feast of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music; Benjamin Britten's birthday; and the fiftieth year since his death.
This concert marks the occasion with music at the center of Britten's choral legacy, curated by Emmanuel Choir member Sonya Knussen — composer, music educator, and daughter of Oliver Knussen, who served as co-artistic director of Britten's Aldeburgh Festival from 1983 to 1998. That connection runs deep: Britten had taken an early and generous interest in the elder Knussen's work, and Sonya's curation therefore carries genuine artistic inheritance.
The program traces a living lineage, from Frank Bridge, Britten's teacher, to Colin Matthews, his last assistant, with Britten's own Rejoice in the Lamb and Hymn to St. Cecilia — his radiant tribute to the patron of this feast — at its heart. Sonya Knussen also offers a world premiere, bringing a living voice into dialogue with a towering legacy.
Sonya Knussen, curator & featured composer
The Emmanuel Choir
Karl Robson, organ
Christian Lane, direction
This concert marks the occasion with music at the center of Britten's choral legacy, curated by Emmanuel Choir member Sonya Knussen — composer, music educator, and daughter of Oliver Knussen, who served as co-artistic director of Britten's Aldeburgh Festival from 1983 to 1998. That connection runs deep: Britten had taken an early and generous interest in the elder Knussen's work, and Sonya's curation therefore carries genuine artistic inheritance.
The program traces a living lineage, from Frank Bridge, Britten's teacher, to Colin Matthews, his last assistant, with Britten's own Rejoice in the Lamb and Hymn to St. Cecilia — his radiant tribute to the patron of this feast — at its heart. Sonya Knussen also offers a world premiere, bringing a living voice into dialogue with a towering legacy.
Sonya Knussen, curator & featured composer
The Emmanuel Choir
Karl Robson, organ
Christian Lane, direction
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Where is it happening?
811 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD, United States, Maryland 21201
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherEmmanuel Episcopal Church
