Path of Miracles – 2018 – Polycoro
Review – Winnipeg Free Press – Holly Harris
… left me with a choral hangover that lasted for days, and the distinct sense that 450 audience members attending two sold-out shows that night had experienced a little bit of what Goethe meant when he wrote, “Boldness has genius, power and magic.” I’ll even go out on a limb and say that we all collectively witnessed what I believe to be one of the most important choral concerts in recent memory that shook the local singing community to its musical core.
Why this show… hit at such a visceral level has been a question I’ve pondered greatly this past month. Manitoba has always been a singing province, offering a rich bounty of fine choral concerts annually from which to pick and choose. So why was this one different, which inspired its own faithful pilgrims — a total of 450, to be exact — to traipse downtown on a cold Saturday night for an avant-garde vocal program with more than a postmodernist vibe, taking us into the witching hour?
The best/only answer I have come up is this: “artistry” — that elusive, indefinable Holy Grail that we hear about, long for, and yet so rarely find in its purest, most authentic essence.
Tale of Two Cities – 2018 – Camerata Nova
Audience Reviews
“Absolutely Beautiful, I’ve never heard anything like it” – Anon
“Nothing short of a celestial foretaste – what a gift this concert has been” – Anon
Worlds Apart – 2016 – Polycoro
Norbert Palej about the premiere of Songs of not being there
I am stunned by the beauty of your and Polycoro’s performance of my piece, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the work you have put into bringing it to life.
Your group’s singing is absolutely gorgeous, but even more importantly: you captured that special energy, focus, and patience which is necessary for the music to truly communicate. Your understanding of my intentions is complete, and I am quite amazed how naturally you were able to get straight to the soul of the expressive purpose contained in the notes. The seriousness and commitment with which the choir members approached the music is also evident. Please accept my gratitude.
WNMF 2017 – Polycoro
Nicolas Gilbert about the performance of Qu’avons nous oublié
British Mysteries – 2016 – Camerata Nova
“What a stunning concert; I had chills going up my spine through much of it. Masterful control by the choir.” – Barbara Schott
“Quite ethereal – sound seemed to surround. Ending excellent way to pull it all together after meditative Shunya…” – Pat Allen
“Excellent! A+” – Matthew LeBow
“Glorious!” – Barbara LeBow
“Superb! Please keep it up.” – Bernie Lodge