The Carice Singers
George Parris, conductor

The concert travels between the British Isles and Finnish forests with choral songs by Elgar and Sibelius, two world-famous contemporaries who, despite coming from opposite ends of Europe, share many similarities in their music. The second half features the premiere of Scottish composer Electra Perivolaris’ If this island.., a piece influenced by the Hebridean Waulking Song tradition, followed by Finnish Matthew Whittall’s evocative choral song-cycle which sets familiar poems by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Elgar There is Sweet Music 5′
Sibelius Min rasras raataa (What the thrush toils); Saarella palaa (A fire on the island); Rakastava (The lover) 10′
Elgar Evening Scene; The Fountain 7′
Sibelius Venematka (The boat journey); Sydämeni laulu (Song of my heart) 4′
Elgar Owls (An Epitaph); O Wild West Wind! 7′
Electra Perivolaris If this island… (premiere) 10′
Matthew Whittall Songs of Travel 33′