Clear Voices In The Dark
Sono Luminus, 2024
8/10
Listen Clear Voices In The Dark
The Grammy nominated vocal ensemble Skylark bring us Songs of the American Civil War, where Poulenc’s Figure Humaine is also part of the attentive and timeless program.
“When This Cruel War Is Over” starts the listen with tremendous vocals that soar with much beauty amid the harmonic choir, and “Figure humaine, FP 120: No. 1, De tous les printemps du monde” follows with the baritone guiding the richly layered choir through much grace.
Moving into the middle, “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye” allows Alice Parker’s vision to illuminate the melodic delivery, while “Soldier's Memorial Day” is layered with expressive and powerful voices that pay tribute to those who have served.
Further still, “Abide with Me” with me carries a heartfelt spirit of emotive harmonies and intimate solos, and “Figure humaine, FP 120: No. 8, Liberté” exits with a busy and firm execution of strategic and indelible vocal acrobatics.
Figure Humaine is often regarded as one of the greatest works conceived for an unaccompanied choir, and combined with The Civil War-era songs, the many leading American vocal soloists and chamber musicians of Skylark easily show us why they are worthy of Grammy nominations.
Travels well with: Ryan Townsend Strand- Dear Mrs. Kennedy; Michael Mizrahi- Dreamspace