ELORA – Reimagined. That’s how The Elora Singers are approaching the 2020/21 concert season.
“With in-person concerts for live audiences still a distant hope, we will bring The Elora Singers’ sound into your living rooms this winter with four pre-recorded programs,” officials say.
Hope and Refuge
The first concert – Hope and Refuge – will launch on Nov. 14 at 8pm.
It will be a program full of inspirational and gorgeous choral music, chosen to instil hope and stir the soul in these difficult times.
The program builds around a song cycle by American composer Jake Runestad, called The Hope of Loving, and will include works by Ola Gjeilo, Eriks Ešenvalds, Jonathan Dove, Stephen Paulus, Dolly Parton and The Elora Singers’ own Jeff Enns.
A Nativity Festival
The Elora Singers present A Nativity Festival of three concerts on Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at 8pm.
The first program, A Quiet Village, features Toronto-based harpist Julia Seager-Scott with The Elora Singers in Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols.
The following weekend will feature the traditional performance of A Village Messiah – Handel’s masterpiece performed with soloists from the ranks of the choir.
The Elora Singers will conclude the online festival with a holiday favorite in the village – A Festival of Carols.
Officials say it features sumptuous choral music, new and beloved, for the season with whimsical, nostalgic and comforting stories delivered by celebrity readers.
Tickets go on sale Oct. 26 through The Elora Singers’ website (www.elorasingers.ca).
Ticket holders will be sent a unique link for each concert the week before it is launched.
Hope and Refuge will be available to view from Nov. 14 to Dec. 4.
The Nativity Festival concerts will be available to view from their launch dates until Jan. 3. This will allow ticketholders to watch the concerts anytime and several times if they wish.
The singers will present variable ticket prices and ask ticket purchasers to consider how many people in their household will be watching the programs.
“As with all professional artists around the world, members of The Elora Singers and our organization have been profoundly affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic and we are grateful for any and all donations to our organization,”officials say.
“We look forward to presenting these concerts to audiences in the village of Elora, across Canada and around the world.”
All concerts have been recorded with the safety of artists, staff and technicians in mind, and in accordance with provincial health and safety guidelines.
“We hope to share concert plans for the new year in due course, pending changes with the COVID-19 pandemic,” officials say.
