Born
Navona, 2022
9/10
The conductor Donald Nally leads the Grammy winning chamber choir The Crossing through compositions by Michael Gilbertson and Edie Hill here, where themes of extinctions, relationships and their complexities, loss, and love are explored with much beauty.
Gilbertson’s “Born” starts the listen with the sublime voices harmonizing with incredible fluidity and a sublime delivery of uplifting, expressive singing for nearly 10 minutes.
Hill’s “Spectral Spirits” lands in the middle, and emits both bare, emotive moments of quick solo singing, as well as fuller bouts with the choir interacting with much warmth and grace.
“Returning”, by Gilbertson, exits the listen, and is heavy on atmosphere that unfolds with a spirited, dreamy demeanor that’s as mesmerizing as it is timeless.
Much like everything The Crossing have done, this body of work is raw, inspiring, powerful and articulate, and certainly will garner them many more much deserved accolades.
Travels well with: Benjamin C.S. Boyle- Spirits In Bondage; Peter Dayton- Stories Out Of Cherry Stems