A Spring Idyll in Watertown
Revels, Perkins School team for evening of music, song, dance
Revels Repertory Company partners with Perkins School for the Blind students for a free Celebration of the Spring concert in Watertown tonight. Photo by Arthur Ferguson
In what has been a seasonal ritual for the past 12 years, the Watertown-based Revels Repertory Company joins with the Perkins School for the Blind tonight for a free music-filled Celebration of the Spring.
The hour-long performance of music and song features the Perkins School Secondary Program Chorus, directed by Arnie Harris, along with adults and children from the Revels touring ensemble. Founded in 1971 by teacher, BBC-TV host, and champion of traditional music John Langstaff, Revels is a volunteer company that celebrates the seasons and cycles of human life through arts, songs, dances, and stories from traditional cultures. Spread over a 38-acre campus, the 180-year-old Perkins School for the Blind was the first school of its kind in the United States. Helen Keller studied there for four years.
Despite the fact that June arrives tomorrow, visitors are told to expect a “wild visit” from the Padstow ’Obby ’Oss—a hobby horse associated with the ancient, flower-bedecked May festival held each year in Padstow, Cornwall, England. The concert will also feature Revels song leader David Coffin, the Perkins Duo, with Anton Sviridenko on piano and accordion and baritone John Castillo on drums, as well as the Mulberry Morris children’s dance team, which will do a traditional garland dance. Revels artistic director Patrick Swanson oversees the production. George Emlen is music director.
Celebration of the Spring is free and open to the public. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. at the Perkins School for the Blind, Dwight Hall, 175 North Beacon St., Watertown, Mass. More information is available here or by calling 617-972-8300.
Comments & Discussion
Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.