The birth of 'Choeurs de Lumiere' [part two] - 25.09.07

“For a long time I’ve had a dream to create a special concert in the Cathedral to raise money for my charity” began Renato. “I imagine it beginning in complete darkness and gradually lighting hundreds of candles from the very highest reaches of the tower right down to the ground. By the end of the concert the Cathedral will be as bright as day and the music will reflect the procession of darkness into light”.

“Children will process with candles, we’ll have volunteers dressed in black lighting the candles and the proceeds of the event will help children in this area who are affected by HIV/Aids”, he continued. “The only problem is that I haven’t yet found the right group to perform the music”.

“I have exactly what you need” replied Barbara. “The choir is a British group called TENEBRAE, they already perform by candlelight, they specialise in ecclesiastical venues and they also move around the space performing from all sides of the audience”.

A few converstaions and CDs later and the concept for the concerts ‘Choeurs de Lumiere’ was already taking shape. Now the experiments with the candles, the rehearsals and the detailed planning could begin…

[to be continued]