Cantus In the Wee Small Hours

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2026 Concert Series sponsored by

Cantus delivers music with exalting finesse and spontaneous grace.

—Washington Post

Now in its 31^st season, Cantus is recognized as one of the nation’s premier vocal ensembles, praised for its signature warmth, blend, and powerful storytelling through music. Performing without a conductor, Cantus works as a true chamber ensemble: each member has an equal voice in shaping every program. This collaborative spirit results in deeply human performances that explore connection, empathy, and shared experience.

Explore the depths of the night with Cantus as they reimagine Frank Sinatra’s groundbreaking concept album, In the Wee Small Hours. As with art song cycles by compositional giants such as Schubert, Schumann, and Wolf, Sinatra’s seminal work lays bare the intimate journey of the heartbroken. It reflects on fading memories both raw and nostalgic but ultimately finds a path toward acceptance. Featuring timeless classics of the Great American Songbook such as Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo,” Cole Porter’s “What Is This Thing Called Love,” and Hoagy Carmichael’s “I Get Along Without You Very Well,” Cantus croons its way through some of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ most famous songs.