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The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) provided the finale to Pride Week on Sunday afternoon. The Maine Center for the Arts hosted the group’s benefit concert as part of BGMC’s own Youth Outreach Program in schools and colleges across the country. Their aim is “creating a more tolerant society through the power of music,” and they have been successful in raising awareness particularly in New England, but also internationally.
Only 70 members of what is usually a 175-strong chorus made the trip up to Maine, but this included five University of Maine alumni and others with fond memories of UMaine summer music camps. Led by animated Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds, the ensemble created great entertainment and powerful music. One member of the group signed the words for each song.
They sang a selection of songs from their recent production, “You Gotta Have Friends: The Songs of Bette Midler & Barry Manilow,” including “The Rose,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
One of the highlights was “Hawaiian Bette” in which duo Todd Sandstrom and Al Gordon donned leis and a ukulele and sang while four chorus members paraded the stage in full hula-girl getup. BGMC also gave a moving tribute to last week’s tragedy at Virginia Tech with “I Shall Miss Loving You,” by Kris Anthony. They closed with a lively rendition of “Down by the Riverside” and received a fantastic reaction from the MCA audience.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus and the concert was part of their ongoing celebration of the group’s success.
UMaine’s Athena Consort warmed up the audience and opened the concert with a selection of pleasant pieces. Their set performance included three love songs by Brahms, a pretty four-part piece titled “Spells” and poetry by Kathleen Raine about creation, bringing lost creatures home, sleep and safekeeping, all set to music. The group finished with a fun George Gershwin Medley.
Next, the Black Bear Men’s Chorus sang an energetic range of songs from around the world. Drums were a prominent feature in songs such as “African Processional.”
“Dravidian Dithyramb” was an interesting piece of Indian classical music sung by the chorus that featured Senthil Sockalingam playing the tabla – a pair of hand drums. The group’s performance was choreographed well and showed off great movement in “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” complementing their powerful vocals with fun visuals.
“Shenandoah” provided another mark of solidarity and remembrance with Virginia Tech and was a touching performance. The group ended with spirit in their “UMaine Medley” and received a standing ovation, as did the BMGC.
Bangor Daily News