Heidelberg University Concert Choir Performance themed My Singing Soul Cries Out
The COVID pandemic has had a devastating impact upon the arts world. Concert halls, theaters, and dance studios have been largely empty for the majority of the past 18 months. Choruses have experienced especially devastating consequences due to the fear of spreading the virus through singing. Many voices have been silenced, and those that haven't have been dampened and muffled by masks. All of us in the performing arts have suffered the loss of critical aspects of our identity as we anxiously anticipate the resumption of live artistic endeavors. Recently, I have sensed and experienced increasing feelings of hope and optimism. Artists are ready to engage in a full return to perfecting our craft. The theme of this year's Concert Choir repertoire is My Singing Soul Cries Out. Through our music, our intention is to celebrate a return for the performing arts in general and for music and singing in particular. But we will not only celebrate the music that our souls bring forth. Rather, we will celebrate the music of all creation: of sun, moon, and stars; of stream, bird, and wind; of humans and angels. Despite being drawn from distinctive and varied perspectives, the texts of the selections on today’s program speak of universal ideas: faith and fellowship, love and loss. Over the course of our program, we sincerely hope that our audiences will be moved by the symbiotic relationship between poetry and music, and that the cumulative associations of each piece will evoke ever-developing images regarding the essence of life itself.