The Latvian Radio Choir spread their wings and fly with Australia’s own recorder queen, Genevieve Lacey. Join them as they look to the skies for dancing planets and soaring birds in the music of Peteris Vasks. Get lost in the sheer beauty of Arvo Part’s Magnificat and listen to the world’s first singers in Hollis Taylor’s Bird on Byrd. Then experience an uplifting new commission from iconic Latvian composer, Erik Esenvalds, setting the words of multi-award-winning Australian author and poet, Alexis Wright.
‘[Lacey plays with] wit, sensuality, and mind-boggling flamboyance.’ – Guardian
‘This chorus’s expertise in music pushes voices to extremes, from ethereal high tones to uncannily sustained bass drones.’ – New York Times
The girl thought that she could hear ghost music,
black swans whispering,
descending in never-ending ribbons,
gathering into flocks of thousands.
— Alexis Wright, The Swan Book
Artists
LATVIAN RADIO CHOIR
KASPARS PUTNIŅŠ artistic director
GENEVIEVE LACEY recorders
Program
Caroline SHAW And the Swallow
VAN EYCK Engels Nachtegaeltje
Arvo PÄRT Magnificat and Nunc dimittis
MENDELSSOHN Psalm XXII ‘Mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen’
Hollis TAYLOR and Jon ROSE Bird on Byrd (New Commission)
PALESTRINA Diminutions on Pulchra es anima mea
Pēteris VASKS Our Mothers' Names
Ēriks EŠENVALDS Ceremony of Swans (New commission)
Special thanks to Ensemble Patrons Ian Dickson AM & Reg Holloway for their generous support of this tour.