Fire & Ice Tour: 2018
Fire & Ice – The Iceland Tour 2018
Esprit de Choeur was thrilled to perform in Iceland in August 2018! With nearly one third of the choir claiming Icelandic heritage we were able to bring “echoes” of the culture of the Icelandic settler’s heritage back to the roots of the amazing land of “Fire and Ice”. Music included both Canadian and Icelandic Folksongs, a multitude of Canadian compositions including a the premier of new work written specifically for this tour by Dr. David R. Scott. Dr. Scott selected the poetry by Icelandic poet Magnus Sigurdsson to set to his beautiful music. The connection between Iceland and Manitoba is deep. It was a joy to meet so many Icelanders who welcomed us warmly.
Review in Morgundbladid, Reykjavik Newspaper.
Translation of the review:
Morgundbladid, August 9, 2018, the Icelandic newspaper:
CANADA’S ESPRIT DE CHOEUR CHOIR: THE PROGRAM WAS SOPHISTICATED (LABYRINTHINE) AND REVEALED A VARIETY MUSIC THAT WAS HIGHLY IMAGINATIVE.
Icelanders flocked to Canada in the nineteenth century, for it was sad to live here at that time. More than a quarter of the nation left seeking a better life. The majority of settlers emigrated to Manitoba and established the colony of New Iceland,west of Lake Winnipeg. A hundred thousand people who are descendants of the settlers live there now. This strong connection between the countries was the focus of a concert at Kaldalón in Harpa on Monday night.A third of the choir members of Esprit are of Icelandic decent, including choir director and artistic director Valdine Anderson.
It was clear that much preparation was put into creating this concert. The program was diverse and an abundance of musical works presented were highly imaginative. New works including a world premiere by a Canadian contemporary composer.A highlight was a folk song by American country music star Dolly Parton arranged for women’s choir. Contemporary Manitoba born composer David Scott was commissioned to create music for the tour. The text he chose consisted of three poems by Icelandic poet Magnús Sigurðsson. These were short and focused in their simplicity. The music was very entertaining, full of exciting yet subtle shades and ingenious development that ended in a thrilling finish. Some Icelandic folk songs were performed in a classical style. The names of the composers were missing in a few cases in the concert program, but the arrangers were mentioned. The songs included Dreamland by Sigfús Einarsson and Night by Árni Þorsteinsson.
The choir’s singing was elegant. The voices were clear and tight, and well balanced. The interpretations were creative and emotionally expressive, with a good touch and lightness, fascinating to hear.
The pianist and percussionist were good, accurate and professional. Several singers from the choir had solos, the most outstanding song performed by soprano Heather Kozak. It was mighty. Her voice was powerful and focused.
The acoustics for singing in the Kaladon Hall are not very supportive for choirs. It is too dry and not suitable for singers. It was astonishing that the concert was not held in the Northern Lights (Norðurljós) Hall, which is a much better hall for such a concert.
Regardless of the performance space, the concert was magnificent. The powerful singing and memorable music will long be remembered. The extraordinary Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, the choir’s encore, was wonderful, full of warmth- a timeless classic. May Esprit de Choeur come back to Harpa soon and sing for us in a better hall.
Touring Gullfoss Waterfall
Performing at Skalholt
Invitation from Madame Ambassador Lorre
Winnipeg Choir Off to Iceland
Written by Stephen Burns
Classic 107.com
Published: 03 August 2018
A Winnipeg choir is heading east, where they will perform at the architectural marvel that is the Harpa concert hall in Iceland.
Esprit de Choeur has been preparing for the trip for quite some time, and will be performing a number of Canadian folk songs and songs inspired by Icelandic culture by local composer David R. Scott.
“It was always a dream to take this choir to Iceland,” Esprit de Choeur artistic director Valdine Anderson said. “I thought since a small portion of the choir is of Icelandic heritage, wouldn’t it be great if we could somehow channel some of that heritage and all of that culture that seeped into today’s music in Canada.”
Manitoba has the largest Icelandic population in the world outside of Iceland, according to Statistics Canada. Anderson says this allows the two regions to share a lot of materials, and any opportunity they get to exchange art is one they should seize.
Scott says this has been something both he and Anderson have been discussing for a number of years.
“Over a year ago now we started looking around for opportunities for funding and Valdine really took a great initiative in terms of applying for the choir to get funding to go, and then we worked together on a commission for me to work on a piece for the choir,” Scott said. “Then it all kind of snowballed from there.”
The choir applied to the Canada Council for the Arts for funding and were successful, with the condition that they receive an invitation from Iceland. They received that invitation from the president of the Icelandic National League of Iceland, an organization that encourages exchange between new-Iceland territories and the homeland.
They will be performing in one of the halls at Harpa in the capital city of Reykjavik, which sits right on Iceland’s west coast.
“Iceland is a small country but they have tons of choirs,” Anderson said. “I don’t know if our audience will be all tourists or if we’ll have a lot of choirs coming to hear us, either way I know there’s going to be a lot of exchanging of cultures and hopefully we can meet some choirs and get some music ideas from them to bring back to Canada.”
“Perhaps then we can host them here someday.”
The Canadian Ambassador for Iceland will hold a reception for the choir after their concert.
Esprit de Choeur will leave for Iceland Monday, Aug. 6.
It all began with an invitation:
