BSO — 2026/01/31

 This evening's BSO concert is another in the "E Pluribus Unum" series. There isn't much information available, because the BSO performance detail page for the concert isn't available, which leaves this description from WCRB along with the interview which you can access (audio or transcript) via the WCRB page: https://www.classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2026-01-31/carlos-simons-good-news-mass-with-wilkins-and-the-bso

Saturday, January 31, 2026
8:00 PM

BSO Conductor Thomas Wilkins leads the Boston premiere of Good News Mass, a new co-commission by Composer Chair Carlos Simon that includes narration by librettist and spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph and vocal contributions by tenor Zebulon Ellis, gospel choruses, and others. Simon’s mass is paired with another work of faith by contemporary composer David Lang. Inspired by the world of Charles Ives and the simplicity of New England hymns, poor hymnal was composed for the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble The Crossing, using a wide variety of texts to contemplate how we respond to those in need.

Thomas Wilkins, conductor
Jekalyn Carr, soprano
Melvin Crispel III, alto
Zebulon Ellis, tenor
Marc Bamuthi Joseph, librettist and spoken word artist
The Crossing
Donald Nally, Artistic Director
Gospel Choruses 
Dennis Slaughter, Guest Chorus Director

David LANG Selections from poor hymnal
Carlos SIMON Good News Mass (with video by Melina Matsoukas; BSO co-commission)

Learn more about the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2025-2026 season on their site.

Carlos Simon talks with CRB's Brian McCreath about Good News Mass, its use of the Hammond B3 organ, the work's relationship to other sacred music, and the very personal origin of one of the hymns embedded in it. To listen, use the player above, and read the transcript below.

TRANSCRIPT (lightly edited for clarity:

Brian McCreath I'm Brian

We do get more information about it all in this review https://www.classical-scene.com/2026/01/31/boston-symphony-orchestra-spreads-the-good-news/ in the Intelligencer.

I wonder what it will mean that the "poor hymanl" is  "inspired by the world of Charles Ives." I've been thinking that Charles Ives should be included in any series about 250 years of aAmerican music, and the series has struck me as too focused on recent and contemporary music and too ready to pull in music from abroad with some tenuous connection to the United States. Well we'll see how this turns out.