From the Depths to the Ecstatic: How does the past inform the present and point the way to the future? Volti continues its 45th season of “singing without a net” with a concert of beautiful and groundbreaking music exploring historic concepts of spiritual diversity, largely from the writings of female medieval mystics, as expressed by contemporary composers.
“De Profundis” – the world premiere of a Volti commission by Bay Area composer Jens Ibsen, setting Psalm 130, “Out of the depths I have cried unto thee, O Lord.” We also reprise Ibsen’s “How god comes to the soul,” with text by the medieval mystic Mechthild of Magdeburg.
“Ecstatic Meditations” – Aaron Jay Kernis’s spectacular settings of four texts, also from Mechthild, in translations by Jane Hirshfield and Oliver Davies. Volti has sung and recorded these in the past and we are excited to revisit this masterful work.
“Into Being” – Ingrid Stölzel’s setting of the Sanskrit Mantra “So ham ham sa.”
“All Shall Be Well” – Joanna Marsh sets text from from “Revelations of Divine Love” by another medieval mystic, Julian of Norwich — believed to be the earliest surviving English-language writings by a woman.
“Sohbet of the Rare Small Bird” – Forrest Pierce sets Sufi reflections on spiritual teaching and learning, from ancient Persian texts.
“Natural History” – Emma O’Halloran meditates on the thousands of species discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace and described in his book “The Malay Peninsula.”
Purchase Tickets
Friday, February 23, 2024, 8 PM, The Crowden Music Center, Berkeley
Berkeley tickets HERE
Saturday, February 24, 8 PM, Noe Valley Ministry, San Francisco
San Francisco tickets HERE
Volti is Hiring!
Executive Director Barbara Heroux is retiring this summer after 16 years in the job, and we are looking for a new Executive Director! This is a part-time position, flexible hours averaging about 20 hours a week, hybrid – work mostly from home but must be local to the SF Bay Area to produce concerts etc.
Full job description and application instructions HERE.