“I think it’s a very natural thing to say that we’re all in need of a little hope and healing right now across the entire world,” says David Macbeth, Artistic Director of the Concord Chamber Singers.

Concord Chamber Singers presents “From Grief to Hope: Rutter Requiem and Howells’ Four Anthems Movements 1 and 3,” 4 p.m. April 27, First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem.

Says Macbeth, “I selected these works as this spring is the 40th anniversary of John Rutter’s ‘Requiem.’ I’ve known Herbert Howells’ ‘Four Anthems’ from the Episcopal and Anglican traditions.”

The concert opens with two movements of Howells’ “Four Anthems” (1941), “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” and “Like as the Hart Desireth the Waterbrooks.”

“The movements are incredibly chromatic and in one sense dark, but also contain a sense of optimism that underpins the texture,” explains Macbeth, adding, “There’s a sense of turmoil and strife on the surface and not knowing where the hope and healing could potentially come from.”

Members of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts Touring Choir join the Concord Chamber Singers for “Requiem.”

The “Requiem” (1985) is a seven-movement work with a combination of selected readings from the “Burial Rite” from the “Book of Common Prayer, the Latin Requiem Mass,” and psalms that Rutter chose as inspiration.

“To compare and contrast the two works,” says Macbeth, “the Howells’ work is, in the words of the composer, ‘asking for help, but we’re not really sure that it’s coming,’ while the Rutter ‘Requiem’ is so deeply hopeful and sort of gives us that sense of assurance. A sense that hope and healing are on the way.”

Concord Chamber Singers, “From Grief to Hope: Rutter Requiem and Howells’ Four Anthems Movements 1 and 3,” 4 p.m. April 27, First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem; Tickets: 484-714-0934; https://ccsingers.org/events

“This annual concert is very special,” says Kyle Wernke, Assistant Professor of Music and Lehigh University Philharmonic Director, adding, “It provides students who may not be pursuing a career as a professional musician the opportunity to showcase their talents.”

Lehigh University Philharmonic presents “Concerto Marathon,” 7:30 p.m. April 25, 26, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem.

Says Wernke, “Working with Concertmaster Michael Jorgensen, we thought that opening with the ‘Overture’ from ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’ by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) would be a good ‘warm-up’ for the students. And we close the concert with my favorite symphony, ‘Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36,’ by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).

Featured student soloists, April 25, are Aviana Reynard, clarinet, “Five Bagatelles for Clarinet and String Orchestra,” by Gerald Finzi and arranged by Lawrence Ashmore, and Marco Clark, trumpet, “Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra,” by Alexander Arutiunian and arranged by trumpet virtuoso Timofei Dokschizer.

Featured student soloists, April 26, are Tedd Stabolepzy, piano, “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D Major, Hob. XVIII: 11” by Franz Josef Haydn; Allison Connuck, violin, “Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26,” by Max Bruch, and Thomas Theiner, clarinet, “Premiere Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra,” by Claude Debussy.

“This is my first year directing the Marathon and the students have chosen some very challenging works containing beautiful lyrical passages,” says Wernke.

Lehigh University Philharmonic, “Concerto Marathon,” 7:30 p.m. April 25, 26, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem. Tickets: box office; 610-758-2787, ext. 0; https://zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu/

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com