The Wellesley Choral Society presents its annual Cabaret on Sat., Jan. 26. As always, this mid-winter concert is in the style of a pops/cabaret performance meant to entertain and amuse. This year’s event celebrates the music of a very famous composer with local roots, Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990), who was born in Lawrence, Mass. The Wellesley Choral Society, in this concert, wants to highlight his Broadway and theater music. To the general public, Bernstein is probably best known for his musicals. Selections from several of these, namely West Side Story, On the Town, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Wonderful Town will be performed. Seven lively tunes from another work, Candide, appear on the program.

The concert also pays homage to what is probably Bernstein’s most unusual work, Mass: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers. The work was commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy and premiered on September 8, 1971, as part of the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D. C.

The upcoming concert is led by Ted Whalen, Music Director of the Wellesley Choral Society, and piano accompaniment is by Hisako Hiratsuka. Small ensembles and soloists alternate with the full chorus. In keeping with the spirit of a pops/cabaret performance this is a casual, relaxed event. The audience is seated at tables and complimentary refreshments will be provided. To add to the evening’s entertainment there will be a raffle and the audience will be invited to participate in some of the songs.

The Choral Society will donate a limited number of free tickets to the Wellesley Council on Aging. A few days before the concert, Wellesley senior citizen may pick them up at 219 Washington Street. Please call 781-235-3961 first to make sure tickets are still available.

Where: Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington Street (near the Intersection of routes 9 and 16)

Tickets: available at the door, $15 regular admission, $12 seniors, $5 students

Other essentials: The church is handicapped accessible and there is ample free parking

OPEN REHEARSALS FOR MAY CONCERT

Wellesley Choral Society is performing Beethoven’s Mass in C and Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region on Sunday, May 5, 2 pm at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church. We invite all area singers to join us in learning and performing this wonderful music. All voice parts are welcome and there are no auditions. Music scores will be provided. We will perform with an orchestra of professional musicians and soloists.

Here is what’s involved:

– Rehearsals for this project start on Mo, Jan 28, 7:30 – 9:30 pm at the Wellesley Free Library, Wakelin Room. The first 2 rehearsals (Jan 28 and Feb 4) will be open to any interested singer to try out the music and get to know us, our Music Director, Edward Whalen, and our accompanist, Hisako Hiratsuka. Alltogether there are 14 rehearsals, always on Monday evenings, plus a dress rehearsal with orchestra on Sat, May 4, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm (time tentative as of now). We would appreciate a small donation to defray the cost of music scores and hall rental. Also see www.wellesleycs.org (please ignore other web addresses for WCS; they are no longer valid).

Come join us and let’s make music!