Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

Ensemble Laude presents its spring concert at the First Metropolitan Church! Featuring the premiere of a new commission by Canadian composer Victor Zupanc, this dynamic program will also be presented at the national Podium choral conference in St John’s, Newfoundland, where Ensemble Laude will be showcased as a Spotlight choir.

Ensemble Laude’s new commission is The Tale of Mahjabin, based on the famed Sufi folktales of old Persia. Renowned composer Victor Zupanc, originally from Victoria and now well-known in the United States, created this work for the choir in collaboration with internationally acclaimed storyteller Anne Glover. Victoria audiences may already be familiar with the wonderful Anne Glover, storyteller extraordinaire! Ms. Glover created the storyline for Ensemble Laude's spring commission and will be our narrator at its premiere June 23. Anne Glover has melded together three traditional Sufi tales to create a storyline unique to Ensemble Laude that reflects our modern world. Douglas Hensley accompanies on oud, and Ensemble Laude provides the electrifying vocals in Farsi and English.

The other pieces in this concert form a golden musical braid that twines together the works of Canadian composers (including Sarah Quartel, Kathleen Allan, and Victoria's Denis Donnelly), medieval and traditional pieces (such as “Le Pommier Doux,” arranged by the choir’s very own Elizabeth MacIsaac), and Nordic works, including “Bruremarsj” by Tone Ophus and the exhilarating “Siin Mu Rõõmumaa” by Ester Magi.
Tickets available online at brownpapertickets.com or at Long & MacQuade's and Ivy's Bookshop.