On this past rainy blustery Sunday evening, I was enchanted by Ensemble Laude in their choral arrangements on the theme of Glimmer. I did question the wisdom of even going out in the bluster but was amazed by this all female choir, dressed in black and mauve. They stood tall and let their voices ring in the wonderful acoustics of the Alix Goolden Performance Hall here in Victoria. Members of the choir changed positions, including up into the balcony of this amazing 800 seat venue.
Readings interspersed throughout provided interesting interludes allowing the choir to reorganize providing their best voice and harmony as well as to allow the audience time to settle more deeply into the music and theme of Glimmer. There was limited, and understated, accompaniment for only a few of their songs. Their final songs of the evening were upbeat and energetic, ending this beautiful evening of secular choral music.
“Ensemble Laude began in 1998 with a group of 12 singers focused solely on medieval music. It has since expanded into a vibrant community choir of over 50 vocalists. Today, our concerts offer and eclectic repertoire, mostly unaccompanied, encompassing early music, sacred and secular works, and folk and world music. We are committed to expanding choral repertoire for workmen’s voices and regularly commission new Canadian works that preserve and revitalize early-music theme within contemporary settings.”
“It took me a long time to develop a voice, and
now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.’”
~ Madeleine Albright
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