After a long pandemic-induced break, Delhi’s premier performing choir returns to the stage with a meaningful repertoire inspired by hope, despite the difficulties we have all been through in the last few years.
The Capital City Minstrels (CCM) returns to performing after three years, the longest we have ever been away in our 28-year existence. Inspired by Hope is a musical celebration of the beauty of human emotion. The choir looks back over the past few years to reflect on the wide spectrum of emotions we have all felt, and celebrates life inspired by hope through our selection of songs. The music spans genres and generations from rock ballads to Latin motets, gospel to Christmas songs. There is hope, sadness, lost love, optimism even in the darkest times, and celebration when storms eventually pass.
Conducted by Sharmila B. Livingston, a Delhi based musician, singer and conductor, and accompanied by concert pianist Nise Meruno, the thoughtfully curated repertoire offers the audience a diverse range of music and will resonate with many who have experienced this range of human experience over the last few years. This includes Giuseppe Verdi’s Va Pensiero, part of the opera Nabucco, which was composed by him after losing his wife and children to illnesses. He attributed this opera to the start of his artistic career, creating it amid his personal trials. Z. Randall Stroope’s Inscription of Hope is a reminder of the strength of the human spirit even amid the darkest times. The deeply moving words, found inscribed on a cellar wall during the rise of Nazi Germany, are an emotional expression of hope. “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. And I believe in love even when there’s no one there.” Loss has been an integral part of our existence in the last few years. Eric Barnum’s “The stars stand up in the air” is a masterful expression of profound sadness for a lost love. Based on a text by Irish poet, Thomas MacDonaugh, the work flows with nostalgic imagery and haunting melody. And there are songs that remind us that “this too shall pass”, like the rousing gospel piece The Storm is Passing Over where we sing about having courage and carrying on, for the morning light will appear. Though it is a little early for Christmas, we wouldn’t perform our winter concert without some Christmas repertoire and the promise of hope that comes with the season.
The Capital City Minstrels will perform on November 19, 7:30 PM at Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. Tickets are available on Book My Show.
