Saturday, February 17, 7:30 p.m.
First Lutheran Church, 364 East Water Street, Galesburg IA
Sunday, February 18, 4 p.m.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 Brady Street, Davenport IA
A celebration of composers and songs from across the Atlantic Ocean, Music of the Deep North II, the wintertime concert by the professional vocal ensemble the Nova Singers, will treat audiences to moving and exciting arrangements of Baltic and Scandinavian works when performed February 17 at Galesburg's First Lutheran Church, and February 18 at Davenport's St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Currently composed of 22 members, the Nova Singers will perform both traditional and contemporary pieces in Music of the Deep North II, a rich program of works by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, Lithuanian composer Vaclovas Augustinas, and Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, along with a series of folk songs from Sweden, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Regarding the winter program, the Nova Singers' music director Dr. Laura Lane said, “It’s incredible the amount and quality of choral music coming out of the Baltics right now, and I’m absolutely in love with all of it. Although many Americans do not know his name, Rautavaara is one of my favorite composers, and the Kyrie and Gloria from his new mass are thrilling. And Ešenvalds is the most popular choral composer in the world today, and we are in love with his new work A Soldier’s Mother’s Lullaby. Folks will remember Esenvalds’ Only in Sleep, featuring Emily Shenk-DeMay on the solo, and his Tykus Tykus is one of the most fun pieces we’ve ever done. I’m so grateful to have an ensemble that can sing this challenging music.”
Founded in 1986 by Knox College's music-department chair Lane, the Nova Singers gathers vocalists from across Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa who share common interests in expressive virtuosity, professional excellence, and community outreach. With the ensemble performing at state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and throughout the Midwest, the Nova Singers have also recorded nine albums including the Christmas-music releases Mystery & Light, Behold a Star, and Mid-Winter.
Tickets to the Music of the Deep North II concerts are $15-18 with students admitted free of charge, and more information and reservations are available by calling (309)341-7038 or visiting NovaSingers.com.
