London Festival of American Music: 'Choral Works from America'

The LFAM closes with a dazzling showcase of the extraordinary diversity of American choral music. From the shimmering sound worlds of Eric Whitacre and Caroline Shaw to the infectious rhythms of Afro-Cuba, the poetry of Robert Frost and the unmistakable voice of Dolly Parton, this is choral music that refuses to stay in one box. With no fewer than nine UK premieres, the programme brings together some of America’s most distinctive contemporary voices, crossing boundaries between classical, popular, folk and world music. Under the direction of internationally-acclaimed conductor Suzi Digby, Voce Chamber Choir explores music that can be haunting, exuberant, playful, spiritual and deeply moving — all within the same concert! A spectacular finale to the Festival: a celebration of the richness, originality and sheer variety of the American choral tradition. PROGRAMME​​ Eric Whitacre Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Caroline Shaw And the Swallow Frank Ticheli Earth Song* Nico Muhly A Great Stone* Reena Esmail TaReKiTa Odaline de la Martínez Three Afro Cuban Poems Nick Strimple A Set of Three* Michael Gordon I First Noticed Robinson* Jake Runestad Nyon Nyon Dolly Parton Light of a Clear Blue Morning* *UK Premiere ARTISTS Voce Chamber Choir Suzi Digby conductor Voce Chamber Choir is a vibrant and dynamic London chamber choir founded by Suzi Digby and Harry Briggs in the summer of 2003. Twenty years on, the choir is known & loved for its polished performances of challenging repertoire from across the musical spectrum. ​ Suzi Digby OBE was born in Japan and raised across Hong Kong, Mexico and the Philippines before settling in the UK. An internationally renowned choral conductor and music educator, she has spent nearly four decades trailblazing the revival of singing in UK schools and communities. As a conductor, her debut with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment drew critical acclaim and she has conducted major choral-orchestral works with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Brandenburg Festival Orchestra and others, at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, King's College Chapel Cambridge, Glastonbury and Hyde Park.