Vermont Arts Preview

BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Concert Choir presents “Songs for the People” in two concerts, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, and at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Latchis Theatre.

“Songs for the People” is a concert for this moment in history, consisting of music by living America-based composers that grapples with contemporary issues like climate change, immigration and racial injustice.

“Every piece on the program grapples with these ideas,” says Music Director Jonathan Harvey. “A majority of the composers represented here were born after 1980, and a majority of the compositions are less than 10 years old. This is music for our time and place.”

Composers include well-known names such as Eric Whitacre and Frank Ticheli, as well as fast-rising young composers Joel Thompson, Mari Esabel Valverde, B.E. Boykin, Sydney Guillaume and many others.

Tickets are $25, $20 in advance, $10 for youth (12 and younger free); go to bmcvt.org online.

Maura Shawn Scanlin in concert

PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present fiddler, singer, and songwriter Maura Shawn Scanlin and her band at Next Stage at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14.

Scanlin is making a name for herself among the Celtic and acoustic music scenes across the country. Her playing, hailed for its inventiveness, fluidity and tone, brings together influences from Ireland, Scotland and the American South, where she grew up. Touring actively with her duo Rakish and string quartet Rasa String Quartet, Scanlin has also shared the stage with many cornerstone musicians in the Celtic music world including Seamus Egan, Maeve Gilchrist, Judy Collins and Hanneke Cassel. Her band features Conor Hearn on guitar (Rakish), Adam Hendey on bouzouki (The Fire), and Julian Pinelli on fiddle (Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, The Foreign Landers).

Tickets are $24, $20 in advance, $10 for livestream; call 802-387-0102 or go to www.nextstagearts.org online. Next Stage is at 15 Kimball Hill.

Sarasa Ensemble

BRATTLEBORO — The Sarasa Ensemble presents “French New Wave Baroque” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Brattleboro Music Center.

The “nouvelle vague” of French Baroque music heralded a wealth of chamber music from the likes of Couperin, Jacquet de la Guerre, Mondonville and others. Telemann caught the wave with great panache, resulting in his gorgeous set of “Nouveaux Quatuors Parisiens” for flute, violin, viola da gamba, cello and harpsichord.

The concert will feature Ashley Solomon, flute; Susanna Ogata, violin; Jennifer Morsches, piccolo cello; Timothy Merton, cello; and John McKean, harpsichord.

Tickets are $25, $20 in advance; go to bmcvt.org online.

‘Dido and Aeneas’

COLCESTER — The Opera Company of Middlebury’s Youth Opera Company is at it again, bringing opera directly into schools with the second installment of the “Dido and Aeneas Project.” With an Artist-in-Schools Grant from the Vermont Arts Council, OCM Director of Education and Outreach Sarah Cullins and Colchester High School Choral Director Melissa Towle have been working with all 85 students enrolled in Colchester High School choral groups since September to learn and stage Purcell’s timeless opera for a performance in January 2024.

The performance, open to the public, is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Colchester High School.

The choral students’ participation hasn’t been limited to just singing and acting out the opera. After reading through the libretto together as a group, watching video clips of productions at companies around the world, and discussing the themes of the opera, the students were given three choices of settings for the Colchester production, each with a completely different central theme, as well as unique costume and set ideas. The students voted overwhelmingly in favor of a traditional setting of the work, complete with Roman columns and other set and costume pieces that evoke the Latin mythology of Virgil’s story.

Admission is free; call 802-388-7432 or go to www.ocmvermont.org online.

VSC artists & writers

JOHNSON — Vermont Studio Center kicks off the 2024 Visiting Artists and Writers program with five events in January. This program invites artists and writers from around the world to mentor residents, present readings, facilitate craft talks, and give lectures that are open to the public.

— Visiting artist Anne Thompson will give an artist talk in the Lowe Lecture Hall 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10.

— Visiting writer Miciah Bay Gault will give a featured reading in the Red Mill Building at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. Gault will also give a writing craft talk at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12.

— Visiting writer Tommye Blount will give a featured reading in the Red Mill Building at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24. Blount will also give a writing craft talk at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 25.

— Visiting artist Rosemarie Fiore will give an artist talk in the Red Mill 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31.

All events are free and open to the public; go to vermontstudiocenter.org online for more information.

‘A Compassionate Spy’

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival Selects presents “A Compassionate Spy,” its welcome in the new year matinee, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Town Hall Theater.

No doubt many have seen Christopher Nolan’s epic biographical feature film “Oppenheimer” and are aware of the complex entity that was “The Manhattan Project.” Among the many high-level scientists who were part of Robert Oppenheimer’s esteemed coterie was one Theodore (Ted) Hall, the youngest of them all, who joined the Los Alamos team at age 18 and infamously provided nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union. “A Compassionate Spy” is his story and offers a potent counterpoint to the better-known historical narrative.

Directed by the acclaimed Steve James, three-time Emmy winner, two-time Oscar nominee and a 2017 MNFF Honoree, “A Compassionate Spy” is a gripping real-life espionage thriller. The story is told through the perspective of Ted Hall’s loving wife Joan, who protected his secret for decades.

Tickets are $16, $14 in advance; go to townhalltheater.org online.