Chicago a cappella kicks off its 2024/25 season in September with Lamentations, a
concert exploring themes of displacement, longing, and rebuilding. The program
features an innovative collaboration between CAC’s ten singers and five dancers from Ballet 5:8, presenting a modern interpretation of Thomas Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah. A performance will take place on Saturday, October 5, at 7:30 PM at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, with additional performances in Chicago, Evanston, and Naperville from September 27 to October 6.
The program’s first half includes traditional folk songs, Wayfaring Stranger and Farewell to Nova Scotia, arranged by CAC Artistic Director John William Trotter, alongside Renaissance masterpieces by Palestrina and Victoria. Russian composer Pavel Chesnokov’s Spaseniye and contemporary works by Sarai Hillman and Saunder Choi round out the first half. Hillman’s Psalm 59:16: Refuge and Safety and Choi’s The New Colossus highlight CAC’s commitment to new choral voices.
The second half features Tallis’ Lamentations, performed with choreography by Ballet 5:8’s Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager. The program concludes with O Lux Beatissima by Howard Helvey, evoking themes of light after darkness.
Tickets range from $38 to $48, with student and Pay What You Can options available. For more information and tickets, visit chicagoacappella.org.