New Haven Symphony Mounts CT Premiere Of Dett's The Ordering of Moses

From the New Haven Symphony Orchestra:

NEW HAVEN, CT — Audiences will be treated to an extraordinary celebration of music and history as the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Perry So, presents Robert Nathaniel Dett’s monumental oratorio, The Ordering of Moses. This seminal performance will take place on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. at Yale University's Woolsey Hall in New Haven and will be the first time the work will ever be performed in the State of Connecticut.

Featuring a massive choir comprising the Fairfield County Chorale, Heritage Chorale of New Haven, and New Haven Chorale, this performance brings together approximately 200 voices to tell the powerful story of Moses leading the Israelites to freedom. Paired with a stellar lineup of vocal soloists (tenor Albert Lee, soprano Amani Cole Felder, mezzo-soprano Krysty Swann, and baritone Kenneth Overton) and guest organist Nathaniel Gumbs, this premiere concert is a historic milestone for the State of Connecticut.

Robert Nathaniel Dett’s The Ordering of Moses should have been a cornerstone of American choral music, celebrated for its fusion of spirituals and classical traditions. Composed in 1937, this oratorio premiered at the Cincinnati May Festival and marked a pivotal moment for Black composers in classical music. However, its early performances were overshadowed by racism, with the radio broadcast of the premiere cut short due to complaints from listeners calling into the station.

"Finally after almost a century this great work is starting to receive its due. The Ordering of Moses was never forgotten – church choirs, community groups, and others have kept the piece in our ears – but its first performance at Carnegie Hall was only in 2014, and the British premiere just in 2022," Music Director Perry So said. "The story and the emotion contained at the core of the work – a young Moses discovering his calling to lead his people out of slavery - is perhaps the most eloquent musical cry against oppression in the American classical music tradition.”

The concert will also feature additional works celebrating the integral role of Black composers and traditions in American classical music, including:

• James Weldon Johnson’s Lift Every Voice and Sing
• Fela Sowande’s arrangement of Go Down Moses
• Florence Price’s vibrant Finale from Sonata No. 1
• Carl Haywood’s stirring We Shall Overcome

Tickets start at $15. Tickets for youth under 18 are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. To purchase tickets, visit NewHavenSymphony.org or call (203) 693-1486 Monday-Friday from 12-5pm.

This concert is sponsored by Yale University Office of New Haven Affairs, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Frontier, and the New Haven Register.

Free Preview Events

Negro Spirituals & Notions of Freedom

Thursday, January 30, 2025 • 6PM • Dixwell Congregational Church – New Haven, CT

This curated conversation will explore themes of freedom and resilience through the stories of Moses and American abolitionist Harriet Tubman, uncovering their symbolic connection to composer Robert Nathaniel Dett’s oratorio, The Ordering of Moses, and its historical censorship.

Prelude: Pre-Concert Talk

Sunday, February 9, 2025 • 2PM • Woolsey Hall

Concert ticketholders are encouraged to attend this 30-minute pre-concert talk about The Ordering of Moses hosted by organist Nathaniel Gumbs. (There is no additional admission fee for the Prelude.)

Additional pre-concert events will be added to this schedule. Visit NewHavenSymphony.org to learn more.

About the New Haven Symphony Orchestra

The fourth-oldest orchestra in America, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s dynamic performances and education programs inspire, delight, challenge, and connect communities across Connecticut. Led by Music Director Perry So, the NHSO’s innovative programming, dedication to the commission and performance of new works, and meaningful artistic and educational collaborations inspire audiences. Through the nationally acclaimed Harmony Fellowship program, as well as numerous award-winning education and community engagement programs, the Symphony strives to be a leader for racial equity in the arts.

To learn more about the NHSO, visit NewHavenSymphony.org.