Must-See Classical Shows this May

May is a great month for classical music in southern New England. For many groups it marks the end of their standard seasons, thus giving way to many season finales. Here’s what’s on tap for May:

Sine Nomine Choir performs Orazio Vecchi’s “L’Amfiparnaso – The Twin Peaks of Parnassus,” a madrigal comedy in three acts. Daniel P. Ryan leads Sine Nomine choral ensemble in a rare theatrical collaboration, presenting Orazio Vecchi’s dramatically scripted cycle of harmonious madrigals. This imaginative spectacle of harmony, hysterics and havoc features actors Rory Boyd and Shawna Michelle James with actor, director and mask builder Ian Sullivan.

Performances on Friday, May 13 at 8pm at Unitarian Universalist Society, 102 Greene St, Fairhaven, Massachusetts and on Sunday May 15 at 3pm at Linden Place Ballroom, 500 Hope St, Bristol. For more information, visit sinenominechoir.org.

The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra presents Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony.” Wrapping up its 100^th (!) season, Dr. David MacKenzie leads the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra though an evening of powerful music for chorus and orchestra. Featuring Boston’s Back Bay Chorale under the direction of Scott Allen Jarrett, and soloists Karen Slack, Abigail Fischer, Yeghishe Manucharyan and David Kravitz, this concert promises to be a memorable one.

Performances on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30pm at Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, 684 Purchase St, New Bedford, Massachusetts and Sunday, May 15 at 3pm at Sanders’ Theater, 45 Quincy St, Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, visit nbsymphony.org/bernstein-beethoven.html

The Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, under the direction of Edward Markward, performs Benjamin Britten’s “Cantata Misericordium” and Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem.” Britten’s “Cantata Misericordium” was originally commissioned in 1963 by the International Committee of the Red Cross for the centennial of the national organization. In Providence it will be performed in honor of the Rhode Island Red Cross’ centennial celebration, and it features soloists Kelley Hollis, William Hite, Aaron Engebreth and members of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.

Performances on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30pm at The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, 30 Fenner St, Providence and Sunday, May 15 at 3pm at St. Joseph’s Church, 5 Mann Ave, Newport. For more information, visit ricco.org.

The Chorus of Westerly presents the “Verdi Requiem.” Written by Giuseppe Verdi in 1874 for the Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni, this setting of the Roman Catholic mass for the dead is one of the most frequently performed (in close competition with the requiems of Faure, Mozart, Brahms and Berlioz). Guest conductor David Hill, music director of the BBC Singers, will lead the ensemble through this ambitious work.

Performances on Saturday, May 14 at 7pm at George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High Street, Westerly and Sunday, May 15 at 2:30pm at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1 Ave of the Arts, Providence. For more information, visit chorusofwesterly.org. Tickets for Sunday’s performance are available at thevetsri.com/events/detail/chorus-of-westerly-presents-verdi-requiem.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra performs Anton Webern’s “Passacaglia” and Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony.” Featuring The Providence Singers under the direction of Christine Noel, music director Larry Rachleff leads the orchestra through two challenging pieces of music. Written in 1908, Webern’s “Passacaglia” is his Opus #1 – his first major work for orchestra. It is seldom performed and is a true masterpiece.

Performances on Friday, May 6 at 6:30pm at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1 Ave of the Arts, Providence (Beethoven only) and Saturday, May 7 at 8pm at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1 Ave of the Arts, Providence. For more information, visit riphil.org.