The Singers returned to the Ravinia Festival, June 2016
Artistic Director Matthew Culloton led The Singers in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil
MINNEAPOLIS – July 2, 2016 – Led by Artistic Director Matthew Culloton, The Singers returned to the renowned Ravinia Festival on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. This marked the ensemble’s fourth performance at Ravinia since their debut there in 2013. “It is by far one of our biggest honors to be invited to again perform at the Ravinia Festival,” says Culloton. “To take part in one of the country’s most-respected music festivals is not something we take for granted.”
The Ravinia Festival is the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and this summer plays host to international superstars like Midori, Chanticleer, Itzhak Perlman, Paul Simon, and Tony Bennett.
The Singers’ performance of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil (Vespers, op. 37) was part of an evening that honored the centennial of the birth of American choral champion Robert Shaw. Earlier in the evening, prior to The Singers’ performance, a new film on Shaw was presented, highlighting the impact the maestro had on choral music across the world. Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil was recorded by Shaw and his choir, and the work’s lasting beauty held special meaning to him in his last years.
The Singers just wrapped their 12th season, and have made a lasting impact on the choral scene through concerts, recordings, and special attention to the music of today’s composers.