Folk Songs

Our project for the summer of ‘22 was called “Folk Songs”.

It featured an exciting program of Luciano Berio’s “Folk songs for 7 musicians and mezzo-soprano” and Antonín Dvořák’s “9th Symphony - From the New World” in an arrangement by the French composer David Walter.

We examined how the human voice and the primal nature of folk songs in Berio’s piece stood up to the composed folklore-inspired symphony by Dvořák. We furthermore saw how the large symphonic work of Dvořák could be explored through these new lenses and in the context of the songs of Berio. We pitched the Old World of Berio against the New World of Dvořák. The European nostalgia of Berio’s song cycle and the American optimism of Dvořák.

Our soloist was the acclaimed German soprano Corinna Scheurle, and our conductor was our always dearly beloved Leo McFall.

We also did important outreach work this summer, teaming up with Maison de l‘Oradou and Maison Nelson Mandela to expose children in the city to our “Folk Songs” project through interactive concerts.

We found this work gratifying to us as an ensemble and on a personal level. We also proved our dedication to the local community we are now a part of. We are determined to make a positive difference in the region, which is our way forward.