The Queens College Choral Society presents a winter concert featuring Margaret Evan Bonds’ The Ballad of the Brown King and Handel’s Coronation Anthems. This beautiful cantata, with text by Langston Hughes tells the Nativity tale from the perspective of Balthazar, the African king. QCCS will also present instrumental selections from composer Karen LeFrak’s forthcoming Christmas album. Join us for this joyful concert with orchestra, soloists and QCCS!

Premiered in 1954 with a text by Langston Hughes, Margaret Bonds’ Ballad of the Brown King was written in honor of the African-American king, Balthazar. It is a charming and joyful work, perfect for the holiday season. In light of the recent coronation of King Charles III, the second half of our program will include three of Handel’s Four Coronation Anthems. These uplifting and celebratory pieces have been performed at every English coronation ceremony since 1727.

The Queens College Choral Society, founded in 1941 is a community, faculty and student-based oratorio society affiliated with the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College-CUNY in Flushing, New York.