SEASON OPENER PRESENTS THE EAST HAMPTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
JOSEPH HAYDN — MISSA IN ANGUSTIIS (“LORD NELSON MASS”)
A GRAND SACRED CONCERT WITH THE EAST HAMPTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2025 7:30 PM
ST. CECILIA’S CHAPEL AT THE MONTROSE ESTATE, EAST HAMPTON
FEATURING
KATE BROWN & PENNY SILVERSTEIN, SOPRANOS
TOAN NGUYEN, TENOR
MICHAEL MELAOUS, BASS
DR. JONATHAN WHITMORE, CONDUCTOR
JOSEPH HAYDN (1732–1809)
MISSA IN ANGUSTIIS (“LORD NELSON MASS”), HOB. XXII:11
6 AGNUS DEI
PERFORMERS
EAST HAMPTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
DR. JONATHAN WHITMORE CONDUCTOR SOLOISTS
KATE BROWN SOPRANO
PENNY SILVERSTEIN MEZZO-SOPRANO
TOAN NGUYEN TENOR
MICHAEL MELAOUS BASS
PROGRAM NOTES
COMPOSED IN 1798, HAYDN’S MISSA IN ANGUSTIIS LITERALLY “MASS IN A TIME OF ANXIETY” WAS WRITTEN DURING A PERIOD OF POLITICAL UPHEAVAL AND PERSONAL FAITH. EUROPE TREMBLED UNDER NAPOLEON’S ADVANCE, AND HAYDN POURED BOTH DEVOTION AND DRAMA INTO THIS MUSIC
FROM THE STORM-CHARGED KYRIE TO THE EXULTANT DONA NOBIS PACEM, THE WORK BALANCES TERROR AND TRIUMPH, EARTHLY FEAR AND DIVINE HOPE. LATER LINKED TO ADMIRAL HORATIO NELSON’S VICTORIES, THE MASS EMBODIES RESILIENCE AND GRATITUDE IN EQUAL MEASURE. MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES LATER, HAYDN’S VISION STILL SHINES AS MUSIC OF STRENGTH, FAITH, AND ENDURING LIGHT A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF SPIRIT IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY
KATE BROWN SOPRANO
A RADIANT SOPRANO PRAISED FOR HER GRACE AND EXPRESSIVE TONE, KATE BROWN BRINGS CLARITY AND WARMTH TO SACRED AND OPERATIC WORKS FROM BACH TO FAURÉ
TOAN NGUYEN TENOR
PRAISED FOR HIS LUMINOUS SOUND AND REFINED ARTISTRY, TOAN NGUYEN UNITES CLARITY AND PASSION IN PERFORMANCES THAT BRIDGE CLASSICAL AND ROMANTIC EXPRESSION
PENNY SILVERSTEIN MEZZO-SOPRANO RENOWNED FOR HER RICH TIMBRE AND EMOTIONAL DEPTH, PENNY
SILVERSTEIN EXCELS IN THE MUSIC OF HANDEL, HAYDN, AND MAHLER, BALANCING SINCERITY WITH VOCAL POWER
MICHAEL MELAOUS BASS
KNOWN FOR HIS RESONANT PRESENCE AND ELOQUENT MUSICIANSHIP, MICHAEL MELAOUS BRINGS NOBILITY AND GRACE TO THE GREAT CHORAL MASTERWORKS.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS & CREDITS
PRESENTED BY
EAST HAMPTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FRIENDS OF MUSIC EAST SOUTHAMPTON COUNCIL AND THE AX CLUB
THE AX CLUB IS A PRIVATE CIRCLE OF DISTINGUISHED ART
PATRONS WHOSE PHILANTHROPY SUSTAINS THE GREAT TRADITIONS OF MUSIC AND CULTURE. MEMBERSHIP IS BY INVITATION ONLY A QUIET SOCIETY OF TASTE AND VISION.
SPECIAL THANKS
ST. CECILIA’S CHAPEL AT THE MONTROSE ESTATE THE MONTROSE FAMILY · COMMUNITY PATRONS · GUEST ARTISTS
PROGRAM DESIGN BY AVONT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JERRY TATE & AVONT MEDIA STUDIO