Conspirare is a choral group that works out of Austin and a few times a year they make it to San Antonio. But calling them an Austin choral group though isn’t entirely accurate..
"Actually only a small number of the singers are here in Austin," said Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson. "This is an ensemble of singers from around the country, really. Each of them is a soloist in their own right. They may be performing art songs, or operatically, or on Broadway, or in faculty positions, and yet come together and form a choir of soloists, in a sense."
They have far-flung careers and homes, but a few times a year they gather for rehearsal and performances. Thursday night’s event at Laurel Heights Methodist Church is a very popular concept piece called "Path of Miracles."
"'Path of Miracles' is based in the pilgrimage route, the famous St. James Way, El Camino de Santiago, in Spain and a little bit of France, and this is something of a musical depiction in four movements," Johnson said.
It’s a story told by way of choral music -- the story of that pilgrimage.
"Pilgrims are met by demons -- whether they’re inner demons or challenges on the road or illness -- so there is a lot of rhythmic characterization. Just as a listener it’s great earplay," Johnson said.
"This doesn’t sound so much like an evening out as it does an experience," I said.
"Yeah, beautiful, that’s right," Johnson replied. "It’s a full experience but it’s really not so long. It’s about 65minutes as a complete piece, and this’ll be the only thing on the program."
Conspirare performs next Thursday at Laurel Heights.
- For details visit: conspirare.org
