‬The Handel and Haydn Society’s‬ ‘Crossing the Deep’ ‭Returns MLK Weekend‬ ‭ ‬ ‭

BOSTON‬‭ | With the return of Crossing the Deep, the‬‭ Handel and Haydn Society invites‬‭ audiences to explore and reflect upon the stories, themes, and musical traditions of European‬‭ sacred music by George Frideric Handel and spirituals by enslaved Africans in America created‬‭ at the same time on both sides of the Atlantic. Performances take place January 17 and 19,‬‭ 2025 at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall.‬

‬‭Premiered to sold-out houses in 2023 and returning for the first time this Martin Luther King‬‭ Jr. weekend, Crossing the Deep was co-created by H+H Resident Conductor‬‭ Anthony‬‭ Trecek-King‬‭ and H+H Programming Consultant and countertenor‬‭ Reginald Mobley‬‭ as a‬‭ response to the revelation that Handel (one of H+H’s namesakes and the composer of‬‭ Messiah‬‭ ) had owned stock in companies involved in‬‭ the slave trade. Crossing the Deep‬‭ explores the resonances and juxtapositions between Handel’s Chandos Anthems and‬ Negro spirituals, created at the same time and often using the same Biblical texts. The‬‭ selection of traditional spirituals arranged by Trecek-King includes “In This Lan’” “I’m‬,‭ Building Me A Home,” “Children, We All Shall Be Free” and others. New to the program is‬‭ the instrumental piece “Solemnity” composed by violinist Sawney Freeman, who was born‬‭ into slavery in Lyme, Connecticut and emancipated by the son of his enslaver in 1793.‬

Crossing the Deep is an immersive concert experience that incorporates spoken word by‬‭ literary performer, narrator, and author of the text,‬‭ Regie Gibson‬‭ and narration by‬‭ Gillian‬‭ Mackay-Smith‬‭ to carry the story forward and highlight‬‭ common themes found in the music‬‭ from both sides of the Atlantic. Soprano‬‭ Brianna J.‬‭ Robinson‬‭ , who made her H+H debut‬‭ during the inaugural Crossing the Deep performances, returns as a soloist alongside‬‭ countertenor‬‭ Reginald Mobley‬‭ and the H+H Orchestra‬‭ and Chorus.‬

‭“The profound stories told by Handel and in the Spirituals—often referring to the same‬‭ texts—resonate with each other, underscoring their common humanity,” said Dr. Anthony‬‭ Trecek-King.“At the same time, their stories diverge, prompting important questions about‬‭ struggle, oppression, faith, and hope. We invite you to take this emotional and educational‬‭ journey with H+H, and to experience the universal power of music.”

Following each performance the audience is invited to participate in a Q&A with Crossing the‬‭ Deep co-creators Dr. Anthony Trecek-King and Reginald Mobley.‬

Crossing the Deep is supported in part by the Robert N. Shapiro Fund for Imagination and‬‭ Creativity. H+H’s current‬‭ You Are the Music‬‭ campaign‬‭ supports the development of‬‭ programs that showcase the vibrancy and expansiveness of Baroque and Classical‬‭ repertoire, such as Crossing the Deep.‬

Concert Information‬
The Handel and Haydn Society presents‬‭ Crossing the‬‭ Deep‬‭ at NEC’s Jordan Hall (30‬‭ Gainsborough St, Boston) on Friday, January 17 at 7:30pm and Sunday, January 19 at 3:00pm.‬

‭Forty-five minutes prior to each performance all ticket holders are invited to Musically Speaking‬ in Williams Hall. Hosted by H+H’s Christopher Hogwood Historically Informed Performance‬‭ Fellow Teresa Neff, Ph.D. this talk provides background and context about the music and‬‭ composers on the program.‬

Individual tickets and subscription packages are still available for purchase by calling‬‭ 617.262.1815 or visiting‬‭ handelandhaydn.org‬‭.‬

About the Handel and Haydn Society‬
Boston’s Grammy-winning Handel and Haydn Society performs Baroque and Classical music‬ with a freshness, a vitality, and a creativity that inspires all ages. Called “one of the most exciting‬‭ ensembles of historically informed performances in the world” (OperaWire), H+H has been‬‭ captivating audiences for 210 consecutive seasons (the most of any performing arts‬‭ organization in the United States), speaking to its singular success at welcoming new audiences‬‭ to this extraordinary music, generation after generation.‬‭

H+H performed the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah in its first concert in 1815, gave‬‭ the American premiere in 1818, and ever since has been both a musical and a civic leader in‬‭ the Boston community. During the Civil War, H+H gave numerous concerts in support of the‬‭ Union Army (H+H member Julia Ward Howe wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”) and on‬ January 1, 1863, H+H performed at the Grand Jubilee Concert celebrating the enactment of the‬‭ Emancipation Proclamation. Two years later, H+H performed at the memorial service for‬‭ Abraham Lincoln.‬‭

H+H’s Orchestra and Chorus delight more than 76,000 listeners annually through concerts at‬‭ Symphony Hall and other leading venues as well as radio broadcasts. Through the Karen S.‬‭ and George D. Levy Learning and 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 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 all of us with our shared humanity through transformative experiences with Baroque‬‭ and Classical music.