The burgeoning of spring brings with it some of the most wondrous music and significant programs of Kent's season. The resonance of Arvo Pärt in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine; a celebration of New York's immigrant communities with Rose of the Compass; two major world premieres with Oratorio Society of New York; another concentration of organ performances, in recital and with the New York Philharmonic; and Musica Sacra collaborating with the Philharmonic and New York City Ballet - what a great slice of music in New York these culminating season concerts are! Read on, and buy tickets with the links below:

• Pärt, Stravinsky, and Kodály with the Cathedral Choir of St. John the Divine: Arvo Pärt's Miserere (1989/1992) for five vocal soloists and choir, winds, brass, bass and electric guitars, percussion, and organ, setting text from Psalm 51 with interpolation of the Dies irae, is, in Kent's words, "a piece practically tailor-made for this cathedral - it utilizes spare but intense harmonies along with perfectly-timed rests to fill the space in a unique and mystical way." This rarely-performed piece is joined on the program by three a cappella pieces by Stravinsky as well as Kodály's Laudes Organi for choir and organ. (Tuesday, March 20 at the Cathedral)
   
• Mendelssohn's Lobgesang with MSM - Kent leads the Manhattan School of Music Symphonic Chorus and Symphony in a performance of Mendelssohn's "symphony-cantata" Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise). (Thursday, March 22 at Riverside Church)
   
• Celebration of New York immigrants with the Cathedral Choir and Rose of the Compass, world premiere of commission by Robert and Victoria Sirota - Completed in 1918, each of the seven Chapels of the Tongues (which encircle the High Altar) of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is dedicated to an immigrant group, among the many that have made New York City the capital of the world: those from Spain, Italy, France, the British Isles, Germany, Scandinavia, and the Eastern Orthodox population of Europe and Asia. Preceded by a tour of the chapels, this program, the seventh collaborative program with Nina Stern's early/world music ensemble Rose of the Compass (oud, kanun, recorder, harp, and percussion) mirrors the chapel tour with music from these communities: choral music of Hindemith, Persichetti, Rebecca Clarke, Tarik O'Regan, F. Melius Christiansen, and Jean Berger, and the world premiere of a commissioned work, Immigrant Songs, by Robert Sirota, with libretto by Victoria Sirota, written for the Cathedral Choir and Rose of the Compass celebrating the melting pot of humanity. (Monday, April 9 at the Cathedral)
   
• World premieres with the Oratorio Society of New York: Sanctuary Road (OSNY commission) with music by Paul Moravec and text by Mark Campbell, and Behzad Ranjbaran's We Are One - Sanctuary Road, an oratorio with music by Paul Moravec and text by Mark Campbell (collaborators on the opera The Shining), is an OSNY commission, based upon the accounts of William Still, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, of the slaves he helped liberate. The performance will feature soloists Laquita Mitchell, soprano; Raehann Bryce-Davis, mezzo-soprano; Joshua Blue, tenor; Malcolm Merriweather, baritone; and Dashon Burton, bass. As Mark Campbell says, "There is such vitality in the writings of William Still; his chronicles of resilience, bravery, struggle and, ultimately, joy, demand to be sung." Behzad Ranjbaran's We Are One for chorus and orchestra is a work commissioned by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - the composer says, "The text is drawn from different time periods and different cultures, from an ancient Hebrew hymn to the 19th century Spanish text, reflecting on the human desire for respect, love, tolerance, and peace." (Monday, May 7 at Carnegie Hall)
   
• On the organ - in recital and with the New York Philharmonic - Kent participates in the celebration of the newly installed organ in St. Paul's Chapel of Trinity Church Wall Street with an appearance on the "Pipes at One" recital series  (Friday, May 18), and he performs as a member of the New York Philharmonic in Berio's Sinfonia and Strauss's An Alpine Symphony led by Semyon Bychkov. (May 24-26 at David Geffen Hall)
   
• Kent directs Musica Sacra in the latest of their collaborations with some of New York's major performing artists: they participate in the New York Philharmonic's "The Art of the Score - Amadeus: Live" (April 11-17 at David Geffen Hall) and the New York City Ballet's performances of the Jerome Robbins ballet Les Noces to Stravinsky's score (May 9, 12, 16 at David Koch Theater).

Looking ahead to summer: note the links below to catch Kent in two summer festivals: Mostly Modern Festival, where he leads two works for chorus and orchestra by Robert Paterson ( June 17 in Saratoga Springs, NY); and Amherst Early Music Festival, where he leads a choral workshop in music of Machaut, Lassus, and Charpentier (July 8-15 in New London, CT).

And don't forget that all are welcome at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine - year-round, of course, but the Easter season approaches, and with it the glorious music that celebrates it. You can see the service schedule on the Cathedral website here.