Journeys & Belonging
Bob Chilcott: The Voyage
Celia McDowall: The Girl from Aleppo
Stephen Paulus: The Road Home
Conductor: Joe Tobin
Piano: Steve Bowey
After the resounding success of their performance of The Dream of Gerontius, which received high praise from critics and audience alike, Newbury Choral Society is breaking new ground with a programme of contemporary works by some of the most skilled composers of choral music working today. Bob Chilcott’s The Voyage and Cecilia McDowall’s Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo both deal with contemporary issues through music, exploring loneliness, connectedness and struggle in different and innovative ways. The Voyage is about our journey through life, with musings about the importance of childhood memories. In McDowall’s own words, The Girl from Aleppo “is a journey of hope and extraordinary fortitude against all odds”, telling the story of a teenager with cerebral palsy who escaped war at home and sought sanctuary in Europe. American Stephen Paulus composed a wide variety of works, both sacred and secular, choral and orchestral. He contributes The Road Home, based on an American folk tune and frequently performed since its 2001 premiere in Minnesota.
