Thu 4/9-Sat 4/11 @ 7:30PM

The Apollo’s Fire program, O Jerusalem!: Crossroad of Three Faiths, created by the baroque ensemble’s founder and artistic director Jeannette Sorrell, had proven popular with its audience, so they’re bringing it back at a time when the concept of living peacefully with others of different faiths and backgrounds — especially in the Middle East — has never been more critical.

The upcoming program, they share, features 26 musicians from Jewish, Muslim and Christian backgrounds, playing instruments such as medieval harp, theorbo, zither, oud, strings and an assortment of percussion instruments from various cultures. They include featured artists soprano Sonya Headlam, mezzo-soprano Aryssa Leigh Burrs, tenor Jacob Perry, baritones Jeffrey Strauss and Edward Vogel,  Daphna Mor on recorder, shawn, ney (Middle Eastern flute) and vocals, and Ronnie Malley on oud and accordion. The Apollo’s Singers will be joining the orchestra and soloists.

The program tours the four quarters of Old Jerusalem — Jewish, Christian, Arab and Armenian) — revealing how the influenced each other in their music. “A Sephardic ballad leads to a classical Arabic love song,” they tell us. “Selections from Monteverdi’s great Vespers of 1610 echo the rapturous singing of the Jewish cantors in the temples. The rhythms of daily life—love, singing, dancing and prayer—culminate in a joyous celebration of shared humanity.”

And we could all use a little more of that right now. They’ll perform the program at The Bath Church in Akron on Thursday, at the Cleveland Museum of Art on Friday and at Congregation Mishkan Or (formerly the Temple Tifereth Israel) on Saturday. Go here for tickets.

apollosfire.org/event/o-jerusalem