What compares to performing repertoire in the kind of grand spaces it was first heard in the country in which it was first performed?
I know this invitation to sing Leonard Bernstein’s iconic Chichester Psalms, as a festival choir will resonate equally amongst fine high school, community, collegiate and choirs of faith. The opportunity to sing this great work comes at a time when many feel the times call for singing Bernstein’s closing prayer taken from Psalm 133 (Hineh mah tov…): “How good it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity” with greater voice and clarity than ever before.
The Chichester Psalms was simultaneously premiered in New York and England making it the perfect music for a cross-Atlantic connection. It is in this context I welcome you to journey with us as we perform individually and as a combined choir in London. There is also an option to continue to Edinburgh for those who wish to join us there for a second Chichester Psalms Gala Concert. You can customize your touring experience around the festival rehearsals and London performance with KI in any way you wish.
I am thrilled that this will be my first festival with KIconcerts – I toured with my own Bucks County Chorale with them to Cuba in 2018 and their reputation for organizing seamless concert tours including both independent and collaborative concerts, is well deserved. Indeed singers from my own choir are traveling to Britain for this festival which is a good reminder that you do not need feel obliged to have your full choir travel given it is a festival. Any number of singers from your choir are welcome to join in if your full choir is unable to travel on this occasion.
I hope you will join me in allowing this music to enrich our lives in the place it was born and has thrived for generations.
Thomas Lloyd
Artistic Director
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