Christmas Concert by the Vocal Group Crystal Tears
The program
The heart of the concert will be A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, a composition for choir and harp or piano among the most loved in the English choral repertoire of the twentieth century. In this case, it will be presented accompanied by the piano and alternating between the two versions normally performed: that for a solely female ensemble and that for mixed voices. The cycle, inspired by ancient English Christmas carols, alternates moments of intense introspection with brighter pages inspired by popular rhythms, conveying all the magic of Christmas through a musical writing rich in contrasts and colors. Alongside Britten's work, the Vocal Group Crystal Tears will complement with a selection of traditional Christmas pieces, such as God Rest You Merry Gentlemen (traditional English carol), White Christmas, Holy Night, and the famous and unmissable Stille Nacht, here proposed in the original arrangement.
The protagonists
The Vocal Group Crystal Tears, founded in 2011 by the current director Elettra De Biasi, is a vocal ensemble that stands out for its attention to interpretative quality and the choice of curated repertoires. The group ranges from baroque repertoire to contemporary music, with particular attention to lesser-performed authors and compositions. Under the guidance of Elettra De Biasi, the group has participated in numerous artistic projects, collaborating with prominent musicians and receiving praise for the intensity of their performances and the originality of their proposals. In the early years of activity, particular mention includes the first performance of the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Alessandro Grandi, the Magnificat by Francesco Durante, the oratorio Membra Jesu Nostri by Dietrich Buxtehude, the Requiem Op. 48 by Gabriel Fauré, and the sacred representation In Nativitatem Domini Canticum by M.A. Charpentier. Starting from 2022, the choir has dedicated itself to an extensive project, transcribing, studying, and performing a vespers of Venetian music, centered on the Psalms Op. 5 by Giovanni Legrenzi. In 2025, it will present on three different occasions the program Luci care, luci belle for choir and clarinets, alternating music by Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven with pieces of contemporary music, and presenting the world premiere of Meteorites. Planctus Coeli by Irlando Danieli.
