First, on Saturday evening, the 10th of August, we will be at the York Street Meeting House in Lyndonville. Then on Sunday evening, the 11th of August, we will be at Alumni Hall in Haverhill, NH.
Lyndonville, VT: https://www.catamountarts.org/show/details/halcyon-chorale/
Haverhill, NH: https://courtstreetarts.org/events/
Concert details:
Halcyon Chorale came together in the summer of 2022 with the intention of becoming the NEK and North Country's premier choral ensemble. Throughout the last two years, our programs have left audiences in a number of heightened states: humming joyfully, stunned into silence, filled with wonder. Our philosophy is simple: we seek the most striking and beautiful music, and we aim for a professional level of vocal quality. This program is a culmination of that development, with a sublime and desolate work by Eric Whitacre.
The Sacred Veil is a 12 movement work for Choir, Piano, and Cello. It recounts the story of a family from its lovely origins to its most tragic point of loss. The lyrics come from the poetry and writings of both Charles Anthony and Julie Silvestri. It begins with an exploration of the liminal space between life and death. The work opens with the words "Whenever there is birth or death…" This is repeated three times, transforming from a question to a declarative statement: "The sacred veil between our worlds grows thin and opens slightly up." As the work progresses, Julie's struggle with terminal cancer becomes the focal point. The singers bring in this phase with a Greek chorus-like recounting of Julie's prognosis. As Julie reaches the end, the choir moves between gentle and sweet moments, agonized pleas, and ultimately, devastated release. It is a profoundly personal story, but its humanity is so vivid, so present, that it also serves as a universal point of catharsis for its audience.