VOCES8 and Eric Whitacre celebrate 30th anniversary of ‘Go Lovely Rose’
Whitacre also to perform "The Sacred Veil" as part of Live from London concert series
Last updated 12th Apr 2022
VOCES8 and Eric Whitacre celebrate the 30th anniversary of ‘Go Lovely Rose’
30 years on from its original release, British vocal ensemble VOCES8 have teamed up with Grammy-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre to make a film single of Eric’s first-ever piece ‘Go Lovely Rose’.
With very few recordings of 'Go Lovely Rose' as Whitacre was only 21 when he composed the piece as a student at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, we have been given exclusive access to share the beautiful new recording to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Summer 2020 saw the launch of LIVE From London, a ground-breaking global streaming festival hosted by the VOCES8 Foundation that connected performers with audiences around the world. It was followed by a Christmas festival featuring musicians from around the world, premieres of new music, and a young performer feature.
VOCES8 are now continuing on from the success of their 'Live from London' concert series by teaming up with Whitacre to perform his most recent work, “The Sacred Veil” on April 14th.
‘The Sacred Veil’ is one of two LIVE From London’s special pieces over Easter. As the calendar turns to resurrection and hope, lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri asked the question “What if our departed loved ones are not truly gone, but are closer than we think?”
Composed by Eric Whitacre, ‘The Sacred Veil’ is performed by VOCES8, pianist Christopher Glynn, cellist Emma Denton and conducted by Eric himself as the last rite of love and friendship, exploring the journey of pain and loss through the words of the deceased (Julia Lawrence Silvestri), her husband (Charles Anthony) and their friend (Eric).
The long-awaited collaboration between choral superstars Eric Whitacre and VOCES8 was filmed at The VOCES8 Centre and will be broadcast on Thursday 14 April.
Buy tickets to 'The Sacred Veil' LIVE from London concert here
In addition to ‘The Sacred Veil’, LIVE From London will also be unveilingMårten Jansson’s new work ‘Requiem Novum’on Easter Sunday (Sunday 17 April). Mårten’s ‘Response of Hope and Wonder’ offers a comforting voice from beyond the veil in which Charles Anthony Silvestri’s poems are woven between the traditional movements of the Requiem Mass giving a new reading to its texts.
‘The world premiere recording of Mårten Jansson and Charles Anthony Silvestri’s new work ‘Requiem Novum’ was released on 25 March by VOCES8 Records and features soprano Anna Dennis, The VOCES8 Foundation Choir (VOCES8, APOLLO5 and friends), and the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Barnaby Smith. The full work will be shown as part of LIVE From London on Easter Day 17 April, and is viewable live or on demand until 30 April. This track, the ‘Pie Jesu’ from ‘Requiem Novum’ is the only a cappella movement in the piece and features The VOCES8 Foundation Choir – conducted by Barnaby Smith. Label - VOCES8 Records.