The World Premiere of Even You Song, a new work for choir and organ inspired by the structure and themes of Choral Evensong
The World Premiere of Even You Song, a new work for choir and organ inspired by the structure and themes of Choral Evensong. The piece will be performed by Peterborough Cathedral Choir and 120 singers from St Augustine’s, West Town, Bishop Creighton and William Law schools.
Devised by Bettina Furnée and Lucy Sheerman. Composed by Cheryl Frances-Hoad. Directed by Steven Grahl. The organist will be David Humphreys.
The project is a collaboration with Metal, Peterborough.
Tickets
£10 (£8 concessions), including free, limited edition libretto. Unreserved seating.
Available (from 1st Dec) online via Peterborough Cathedral’s page at Oundle Box Office on 01832 274734, or from Peterborough Information Centre on 01733 452336.
Even You song has been devised by Bettina Furnée and Lucy Sheerman, artists in residence at Metal, Peterborough. The artists wanted to imagine what it would be like if people from Peterborough had the chance to take a journey to the moon with someone they loved. This idea echoes the recent search of the Mars Foundation for ‘mature couples’ to travel to Mars, which had many respondents.
The new town of Peterborough was created around the time of the first moon landings although its cathedral, situated at the heart of the ancient city, will soon be celebrating its 900th anniversary. Even You Song combines the ancient traditions and rituals of the cathedral with the voices of people living in one of the fastest growing cities in Britain now.
Lucy and Bettina interviewed twelve Peterborough couples to find out whether they could make a one-year journey to the moon together, and used these words to create a libretto. Then they invited the award-winning young composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad to set the words to music to the format of Evensong. In making the piece they wanted to invite Peterborough residents to experience the wonderful music that is performed in the Cathedral every single day. They also wanted the voices of local people to be heard in the piece.
