A gig held at St George's Bristol on Friday 22nd May. The event starts at 19:30.
Verity Standen creates unique and surprising music for human voices. St George’s is proud to host the very first performance of this extraordinary new show.
A highly skilled ensemble of 11 singers brings to life a new collection of songs that veer from fierce to fragile, showcasing the power and poignancy of unaccompanied voice.
Bristol audiences may be familiar with Verity’s music from her award-winning work in theatre. She has filled castles and cafes, islands and hospital wards with song. Last time she performed at St George’s, as part of Mayfest 2018, Verity stripped away all the furniture to transform the auditorium. For this show, audiences can expect a concert on the stage, but the music itself will be as vivid, visceral and varied: a tapestry of emotive sound worlds.
Featuring rich harmony and playful improvisation, the community of singers meet the challenge of these songs afresh each night - a deeply human, intrinsically live experience.
Ben Spencer, our lead programmer, says: “We are so thrilled to be working with Verity again. It feels like an honour to be part of her ongoing musical journey and to witness first hand the creative process behind her work, which is always so exploratory, tender, powerful and human. For this brand new show she has assembled an extraordinary troupe of singers from a whole range of musical backgrounds. We were lucky enough to hear an informal sharing of their material early in February, after a week in development. How can one describe the music? It contains multitudes: a fragile lone voice; a room filled with rising, ecstatic harmonies that move you to your core; simple songs, hummed melodies, vocalised rhythms; richly spontaneous, humorous, profound music that will stay with you for a very long time. For anyone who loves the voice, singing, song, that listens to a whole world of music, from indie, alt-folk or improv to classical choral or the soaring majesty of Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares – basically, anyone that loves to be surprised by sound – I urge you to come and listen!”
Entry requirements: 14+
A highly skilled ensemble of 11 singers brings to life a new collection of songs that veer from fierce to fragile, showcasing the power and poignancy of unaccompanied voice.
Bristol audiences may be familiar with Verity’s music from her award-winning work in theatre. She has filled castles and cafes, islands and hospital wards with song. Last time she performed at St George’s, as part of Mayfest 2018, Verity stripped away all the furniture to transform the auditorium. For this show, audiences can expect a concert on the stage, but the music itself will be as vivid, visceral and varied: a tapestry of emotive sound worlds.
Featuring rich harmony and playful improvisation, the community of singers meet the challenge of these songs afresh each night - a deeply human, intrinsically live experience.
Ben Spencer, our lead programmer, says: “We are so thrilled to be working with Verity again. It feels like an honour to be part of her ongoing musical journey and to witness first hand the creative process behind her work, which is always so exploratory, tender, powerful and human. For this brand new show she has assembled an extraordinary troupe of singers from a whole range of musical backgrounds. We were lucky enough to hear an informal sharing of their material early in February, after a week in development. How can one describe the music? It contains multitudes: a fragile lone voice; a room filled with rising, ecstatic harmonies that move you to your core; simple songs, hummed melodies, vocalised rhythms; richly spontaneous, humorous, profound music that will stay with you for a very long time. For anyone who loves the voice, singing, song, that listens to a whole world of music, from indie, alt-folk or improv to classical choral or the soaring majesty of Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares – basically, anyone that loves to be surprised by sound – I urge you to come and listen!”
Entry requirements: 14+