Hello everyone. I want all music lovers to know about a stunning choral ensemble from London that Burna and I fell in love with during the pandemic lockdown—VOCES8. VOCES8 will stream two Live From London Easter Concerts on April 14 and 17. Burna and I subscribed to six choral festivals that the VOCES8 singers and the VOCES8 Foundation organized during the 2020–21 lockdown. A dozen or so choral groups and/or chamber orchestras from the UK, Europe and beyond participated in each festival. We fell in love with the VOCES8 sound, the group's personalities and what felt like real friendship—all streamed live over the internet. We are really looking forward to their upcoming Easter concerts. The concerts are April 14 (The Sacred Veil) and April 17 (Requiem Novum). The concerts will be streamed at noon Eastern Time and will be available on demand through the end of April. You can purchase tickets for one or both concerts at the Live From London website. You’ll pay $32 (£24) for the two concerts and about half that for a single concert. About the music. The LFL website says, "As the calendar turns to resurrection and the hope beyond, LIVE From London presents two very personal pieces as its exclusive Easter meditation – both from the heart and pen of poet/lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri.” Many of you will know Eric Whitacre, who writes some of the most gorgeous music I’ve ever listened to. The poet Charles Silvestri and Whitacre have been close friends for many years. From the website. ‘The Sacred Veil’ by Eric Whitacre, performed by VOCES8, pianist Christopher Glynn, cellist Emma Denton and conducted by Eric himself is a last rite of love and friendship, exploring the journey of pain and loss through the words of the deceased (Julia Lawrence Silvestri), her husband (Charles Anthony Silvestri) and their friend (Eric). Intimately filmed from The VOCES8 Centre and broadcast on Thursday 14 April, the much-awaited collaboration between choral superstars Eric Whitacre and VOCES8 will unveil a newly pared-down approach to the piece, lending it yet more immediacy and poignancy. From the website. In contrast, on Easter Day (Sunday 17 April), LIVE From London unveils Mårten Jansson’s new work ‘Requiem Novum’. As the tombstone is rolled away, Mårten’s ‘Response of Hope and Wonder’ offers a comforting voice from beyond the veil. Charles Anthony Silvestri’s poems are woven between the traditional movements of the Requiem Mass giving a new reading to its texts, whilst Mårten’s expansive score evokes the beauty of sweeping Swedish landscapes just as much as the wonder of eternity. Celebrating the release of the world premiere recording by soprano Anna Dennis, The VOCES8 Foundation Choir and the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Barnaby Smith. Click here <https://vimeo.com/675947511/c13bb78898> for the Live From London Easter Concerts trailer. (Do Google or YouTube searches for Eric Whitacre’s and Mårten Jansson’s music and Charles Anthony Silvestri’s poetry.) Click here <https://livefromlondon.org/> for the Live From London web site for more information and to buy tickets for the streamed, online concerts. Let me know if you have questions. If you attend (online or in person) I’d love to hear about your experience. All the best to all. David PS. VOCES8 was on tour in North American last month. Burna and I took our colleague Louise Singleton to their concert in Santa Fe, NM. — "Mystery, possibility, and the power to choose" David Dunn 740 S Alton Way 9B Denver, CO 80247 720-314-5991 dmdunn1@gmail.com
