Festina is a chamber choral ensemble that includes regionally and internationally acclaimed artists drawn from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, Henry Purcell Society, and Emmanuel Music, among others. Festina specializes in early sacred music, drawing from the rich catalogue of Renaissance polyphony through Baroque and Classical works. We strive to present masterworks of the Western canon while likewise dusting off the obscurity of lesser-known composers, all in the living context of public worship. Our repertoire spans the gamut of full-scale Masses by Palestrina, Galuppi, Victoria, and Hassler; motets by Antoine Brumel, Rafaella Aleotti, Giovanni Croce, and William Byrd; and incidental works by Henry Purcell and Michael Haydn. We also incorporate more contemporary music from ecumenical sources that complement our core repertoire, such as compositions by Herbert Howells, Benjamin Britten, Bob Chilcott, and Cecilia McDowall. Festina also delights in community-building, whether it be through festive post-service wine and cheese receptions, or amusing satirical videos and social media presence.
