Join us for the world premiere of FIRE!, based on Portland’s Great Fire of 1866.

Told from the perspective of a soldier returning home from the Civil War, the oratorio begins with the celebration of  Portland’s second post-war Independence Day, soon shattered by the catastrophic blaze accidentally sparked by fireworks. Through words and music, we are carried beyond  the fire’s destruction and into its eerie aftermath. Emerging from the ashes is the powerful and defiant message of Resurgam – Portland’s motto, “I shall rise again” – for the real story is not the devastation of the fire, but the speed and tenacity with which the people of Portland rebuilt their great city.

ChoralArt has commissioned this major choral work and instrumental accompaniment from New England composer Travis M. Ramsey. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Credomesse (Mass in C major, K. 257) rounds out this stunning concert.

George Frederick Morse’s “Painting of Great Fire, Portland, 1866” is portrayed as viewed from Commercial Street near the Head of Richardson’s Wharf. Used with permission; Collections of Maine Historical Society, MaineMemory.net, item 42791.

PRE-CONCERT LECTURES WITH HERB ADAMS – A Deeper Dive into Portland’s History

Join us at 2:00 pm before both performances of FIRE! for a special pre-concert lecture with Herb Adams, former Maine legislator and expert on New England history. As part of ChoralArt’s world premiere of FIRE!, Herb will offer an enlightening look at the historical context behind this powerful oratorio, inspired by the devastating Great Fire of 1866. His lecture will explore Portland’s resilience in the face of tragedy, offering a unique perspective on the city’s recovery and the spirit captured in FIRE!. Don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your concert experience and connect with Portland’s rich history before the performance begins.

Herb Adams is an Adjunct Professor of History and Government at Southern Maine Community College and a graduate of the Kennedy School of Government Executive Program. A long-time state legislator from Portland, he is now at work on a biography of Maine Governor, Percival Baxter. His articles have appeared in publications as varied as the Maine Sunday Telegram, Yankee Magazine, and The Farmer’s Almanac. He is a frequent guest on Maine Public Radio and can be seen on the History Channel and The Learning Channel, discussing the nooks and corners of New England history.

LECTURE WITH MAINE STATE HISTORIAN, EARLE G. SHETTLEWORTH, JR.

Enjoy this prerecorded lecture with Earle G. Shettleworth, the longtime Maine state historian, as he traces the origin, path and aftermath of the event that reshaped Portland into the city it is today. This is presented in partnership with the Maine Historical Society.

Continue to enhance your experience for our upcoming FIRE! performances with all of our FIRE! Enrichment Activities.