Chamber Choir will perform Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil (“Vespers”)

On the heels of critically-acclaimed album launch, Skylark returns to Atlanta to debut at Spivey Hall on Saturday, May 21, 2016

Skylark, the critically-acclaimed professional chamber choir of vocal soloists from across the United States, is returning to Atlanta to make its debut in the world-renowned acoustics of Spivey Hall. Skylark’s 21 professional singers will present a rare chamber performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil (commonly referred to as the Vespers) on Saturday, May 21, at 7:30p.m.  The ensemble has been praised for its ability “to sway you softly into calm and then all but throw you across the room with sheer harmonic force.” (Thought Catalog)

Skylark Artistic Director Matthew Guard chose to present the All-Night Vigil after a very personal experience with the work. “The Rachmaninoff Vespers, and in particular the Robert Shaw recording, played a pivotal part in my experience of the birth of our first child, Harry, in November 2014. On the day of Harry’s birth Carolyn was taken in for emergency surgery, and the Vespers truly carried me through a time of profound fear and worry. After Harry’s safe arrival and Carolyn’s recovery, I vowed to dedicate myself fully to the work, as a gesture of gratitude for the comfort it had given me in my most trying hour.”

Guard shared his personal story of the role of the piece, written the day after Harry’s birth. The story is included below this release.

Skylark’s upcoming Spivey Hall concert is Skylark’s first return performance in Atlanta after its recent album, Crossing Over, was released on March 25, 2016. Produced in collaboration with the Grammy-winning team from Sono Lumunus, Crossing Over debuted at #4 on the Billboard Traditional Classical Chart, reached #5 on the iTunes Classical Chart, and was the #1 New Release on Amazon Classical. Crossing Over has received consistently rave reviews, as an album that “reaches in through the ribs and grabs the vitals.” (Q2/WQXR) Music from the album has been featured on leading radio programs and podcasts locally (WABE), nationally (WQXR, WNYC), and internationally (Canadian Public Broadcasting).

Tickets for the Spivey Hall recital are priced at $40 (with discounts for subscribers, groups, students and Georgia educators), and are available for purchase now through the Spivey Hall website or by calling the Spivey Hall box office at (678) 466-4200.  A pre-concert talk given by Skylark Artistic Director/Conductor Matthew Guard begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Music Education Building and is included in the ticket price.