Pitch-perfect melodies, hauntingly beautiful harmonies and stunning vocals — all cliché phrases and yet, all ways to describe the latest performance by the U’s A Cappella and Chamber Choirs. But no ready-made phrase can quite capture the pure excellence of their production.
The event was dedicated to showcasing these two groups’ skills. It evolved into a musical sprint through time, starting with centuries-old, somber religious and Latin music and ending on a snappy, upbeat modern arrangement of “I Can Tell the World.” In this movement, these two ensembles demonstrated their range and talent at Libby Gardner Hall on Friday night.
The night began with the U’s international award-winning Chamber Choir performing the Latin funeral song, “Versa est in luctum.” Rather than taking to the stage front and center, the group stood in the seating area at the top of Libby Gardner Hall. This move allowed more focus on their voices, with many in attendance not turning to see the ensemble in their awkward location above the audience. Listening to this captivating opening performance, it’s easy to see how they walked away victorious from the European Choral Grand Prix last summer.
Performing alongside the chamber group was the U’s A Cappella Choir. While their set was not at all boring, erase all images you may have of the film “Pitch Perfect.” This ensemble matched the elegance of their fellow singers in looks — all performers were in suits or dresses, all black — and in tone. They continued the Latinate theme with “Requiem Aeternam,” a melodic take on a Roman Catholic prayer meaning “eternal rest” asking God to help souls of Christians in Purgatory to a place in heaven.
Following this came “Out of the Deep,” another religiously-minded hymn, this time in English.
From there the night continued to move forward in time, with musical renditions of passages from the poetry collection “Songs of Innocence,” by poet William Blake. This was followed by a brief interruption from one of the conductors, who told audiences the next song, “September Song” by Kurt Weill would be a preview of an upcoming March 26 performance, and signaled another shift in focus.
After “September Song” ended, the A Cappella choir performed “If I Loved You,” from the 1950s musical “Carousel,” while the Chamber sang “My Romance,” from the 1930s show “Jumbo.”
The performance culminated with both choirs coming together on stage, snapping in unison and singing the upbeat “I Can Tell the World,” a song originally created for and sung by the University of Utah Singers in 2009. The song which proclaims “I can tell the nation, yes, that I’m the best,” is a far cry from the original mourning tune the night began with.
The next choir performance is April 8, where the A Cappella ensemble will take to the stage again at the Libby Gardner Concert Hall. Following this, the Chamber and Women’s Choirs perform on April 15 and 16, respectively.
@Ehmannky