Mayflower Chamber Orchestra to present classics in Middleboro

MIDDLEBORO — On April 12, the Mayflower Chamber Orchestra under the direction of J. Fred Thornton will present a concert of music titled “Classical Masters: Haydn and Mozart.” 

The performance is free to the public, although a donation of $10 to $20 to help pay for the orchestral musicians is suggested. The Sunday afternoon concert will be held at the Meetinghouse Church at 3 Nickerson Ave., starting at 3:00 p.m.

Both buildings are wheelchair accessible. The orchestra consists of freelance musicians who play with other orchestras on the South Shore. In the past they accompanied the Mayflower Chorale from 1984 through its last “Messiah” in 2004, and the Chorale’s successor, the Mayflower Camerata, since 2016.

Their performances included major works by Bach, Handel, Haydn and Mozart.

This year’s program is a sequel to the Haydn – Mozart program of 2023. It will include two of Haydn’s most popular symphonies: No. 82 in C Major from the set of six symphonies for Paris, known as “The Bear Symphony”; and No. 101 in D Major from the second set of symphonies for London, known as “The Clock Symphony”.

As Thornton turns 81 soon after this concert, he anticipates that this will be his farewell as director.

Those wishing to join in the singing of the “Dona nobis pacem” should contact the director at j.fred.thornton@comcast.net regarding a 60-minute rehearsal for the singers only on Monday, April 6. 

Copies of the music will be available at that time. If people can’t make that rehearsal, there will be a second rehearsal for the singers downstairs at the Meetinghouse Church on Friday, April 10.

The Mayflower Chamber Orchestra receives support primarily by grants from the Local Cultural Councils of Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Freetown, Halifax, Lakeville, Middleboro, Plymouth, Plympton, Raynham, Rochester, and Wareham.