Audiences will be treated to an extraordinary celebration of music and history as the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO), 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, February 9, 2025 at 3:00 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.

Click here to learn more about this performance and to buy tickets. 

Featuring a massive choir comprising the Fairfield County Chorale, Heritage Chorale of New Haven, and New Haven Chorale, this performance brings together 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, early performances were overshadowed by racism, with the radio broadcast of the premiere cut short due to complaints from listeners calling into the station.

Music Director Perry So says, “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. 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

Meet the Featured Artists:

• Albert Lee (Moses, tenor): A celebrated tenor and advocate for diversity in classical music, Albert Lee has graced international stages, from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center. His rich voice and dynamic interpretations have earned him critical acclaim, having performed with Opera Theater of Saint Louis, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Orchestra, Saint Luke’s Chamber Orchestra, the Collegiate Chorale of New York City, Caramoor International Music Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival. He teaches on the faculty of Yale School of Music and is their inaugural Director of Equity, Belonging, and Student Life. Learn more at schmidtvocalarts.org/vocal-artist-network/albert-lee.
• Krysty Swann (The Voice of Israel, mezzo-soprano): Known for her velvety voice and emotional depth, Krysty Swann has performed with major opera companies and orchestras, including numerous performances with the Metropolitan Opera, as well as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Lincoln Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Carnegie Hall, amongst others. Learn more at krystyswann.com.
• Kenneth Overton (The Voice of God/The Word, baritone): Grammy award-winning baritone Kenneth Overton is lauded for blending his opulent baritone with magnetic, varied portrayals that seemingly “emanate from deep within body and soul.” He has appeared with leading opera houses and symphonies, including the Metropolitan Opera, Opera Carolina, National Philharmonic, Harlem Chamber Players, and the Kennedy Center, amongst others, earning accolades for his portrayals of numerous iconic roles. Learn more at kennethoverton.com.
• Amani Cole-Felder (Miriam, soprano): Praised for her luminous tone and commanding stage presence, Amani Cole-Felder is a rising star in the opera and concert worlds. A 2023 graduate of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, she has performed with renowned ensembles across the country, captivating audiences with her versatility and artistry. Learn more at uiatalent.com/artists3/amani-cole-felder.
• Nathaniel Gumbs (organist): Director of Chapel Music at Yale University, Nathaniel Gumbs is an acclaimed organist celebrated for his virtuosic playing and deep connection to spiritual and gospel traditions. He has performed at prestigious venues around the world, having played with the NHSO most recently at its 2023 performance of Saint-Saëns’ “Organ” Symphony.
• The Heritage Chorale of New Haven is a not-for-profit choral organization that seeks to preserve music of the African American liturgical tradition through presentation with other musical forms from classical to contemporary. Directed by Jonathan Berryman, HCNH has performed in concert with Yale University musical groups, with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and with the New Haven Chorale, among others.
• The New Haven Chorale is an auditioned, volunteer chorus devoted to serving the Greater New Haven community through outstanding choral music. With performances described as “electrifying” and “deeply moving,” they are as committed to supporting other non-profits, creating educational initiatives, commissioning new music, and showcasing Connecticut composers. A devotion to artistic excellence, nurturing local musicians, and sustaining community has kept the Chorale unique and dynamic for over 70 years.
• Throughout its 62-year history, the Fairfield County Chorale has presented more than 250 choral works, with more than 1,700 singers participating over the years. They have presented numerous local, U.S., and world premieres, and have appeared in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center.

Tickets: 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.