THE
UNICORN SINGERS and SOLSTICE OCTET
present
Rachmaninoff:
All-Night Vigil (Vespers)
One of the
composer's personal favourites, the All-Night Vigil is an epic choral
masterpiece like no other. Steeped in the Russian Orthodox tradition,
Rachmaninoff here sets the most significant and dramatic liturgical rite,
namely the combined services of Vespers and Matins that are held in the early
hours of Easter Day.
For this
lengthy sequence of psalm and prayers, the composer takes as his starting point
the time-honoured Orthodox chants but adds to each an unforgettable soundworld of mystery and awe. In the
process, each movement acts as a form of audio icon for meditation and
spiritual enlightenment.
Rachmaninoff's
piece also explores the rich sonorities of Russian choral singing, especially
its distinctive low bass parts. Accordingly, our performance will showcase the
talents of the Solstice Octet: students from the Royal Welsh College of Music
and Drama, who take on the work's mesmerising solo roles.
There are 15
movements that together form an unfolding sequence towards the light of the
resurrection morn. The music in each serves as a distinct object for
meditation, drawing us into a deeper spiritual dimension at every turn. It
is undoubtedly an unforgettable sonic experience.
We are
naturally delighted to be collaborating with the Cardiff students for this
project and to return to Our Lady and
St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Abergavenny.
Do join us
for this tour de force of a cappella singing!
Tickets at
£15 from our website (50p booking fee applies) or on the door (students free).
Solstice
Octet
Originally
formed at the RWCMD in 2022, Solstice was born from a group of friends with a
shared love of singing together. Each member of the octet has studied voice and
opera, which allows for exploration of a vast range of repertoire, from early
masterpieces to rich romantic choral repertoire, and collaborations with new
composers.
Recent
engagements for the group have been performing at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the
World Fringe Festival, Brecon Choir Festival, and at The Sixteen’s Sounds
Sublime Festival.
