The Secret Letter Cantus

• Abbie Betinis (b. 1980): Yhinx:
• 1 Betinis: Yhinx: An Ancient Greek Love Charm 03:59
• Anonymous: Canto a Eleggua:
• 2 Anonymous: Canto a Eleggua 03:45
• Libby Larsen (b. 1950): Love Is…:
• 3 Larsen: Love Is… 01:01
• Marcus Aurelius (b. 121 - 180): Interlude:
• 4 Aurelius: Interlude: Marcus Aurelius to Marcus Fronto 01:36
• Consuelito Velázquez (1916 - 2005): Bésame Mucho:
• 5 Velázquez: Bésame Mucho 03:49
• Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900): Interlude:
• 6 Wilde: Interlude: Excerpt from De Profundis 01:30
• Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963): Figure humaine, FP. 120:
• 7 Poulenc: Figure humaine, FP. 120: No. 6, Le jour m’étonne et la nuit me fait peur 01:58
• Mohammed Fairouz (b. 1985): A Source of Light:
• 8 Fairouz: A Source of Light: No. 1, On the Shoulders of Giants 02:03
• Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892): Interlude:
• 9 Whitman: Interlude: Walt Whitman to Peter Doyle, August 21, 1869 01:30
• Steven Sametz (b. 1954): We Two:
• 10 Sametz: We Two: No. 4, Not Heat Flames Up and Consumes 04:12
• Saunder Choi: Light Years to Lebanon:
• 11 Choi: Light Years to Lebanon 07:19
• Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886): Interlude:
• 12 Dickinson: Interlude: Emily Dickinson to Susan Gilbert, Summer 1852 01:33
• Mari Esabel Valverde: Before Spring:
• 13 Valverde: Before Spring 03:52
• Leoš Janáček (1854 - 1928): 3 Sbory mužské, JW IV/19:
• 14 Janáček: 3 Sbory mužské, JW IV/19: I. Loučení 03:03
• Paul McCartney (b. 1942), John Lennon (1940 - 1980): Blackbird:
• 15 McCartney, Lennon: Blackbird 03:31
• Rod Kelly Hines: Interlude:
• 16 Hines: Interlude: To the One I Once Was (or Might Have Been) 02:45
• Richard Rodgers (1902 - 1979): The King and I:
• 17 Rodgers: The King and I: We Kiss in a Shadow (Arr. for Vocal Ensemble by Chris Foss) 03:54
• Total Runtime 51:20

Info zu The Secret Letter

Über fast zwei Jahrtausende hinweg hat sich in leidenschaftlichen Briefen eine geheime Welt verbotener Liebe entfaltet. Von den tiefgründigen Gedanken des Kaisers Mark Aurel bis zu den poetischen Zeilen Walt Whitmans offenbaren diese brieflichen Schätze den zärtlichen, stürmischen und triumphalen Weg der Liebe durch die Zeitalter. „The Secret Letter“ ist eine Würdigung dieser Stimmen. Ihre Worte erinnern uns daran, dass queere Liebe ebenso alt, leidenschaftlich und real ist wie jede andere.

In dieser bewegenden Auseinandersetzung taucht Cantus in die Tiefen unausgesprochener Wünsche und verborgener Sehnsüchte ein – in jene Bereiche, in denen queere Liebe oft in den Schatten gedrängt wurde, überschattet von der Last gesellschaftlicher Erwartungen und Vorurteile. Durch Wort und Musik beleuchtet Cantus die Widerstandskraft und den Mut derer, die es wagten, mutig zu lieben – allen Risiken und Hindernissen zum Trotz. Sie erinnern uns daran, dass Liebe in all ihren Formen ein Akt des Trotzes ist. Und dass die Liebe selbst in einer Welt, die sie so oft zum Schweigen bringen wollte, einen Weg findet, gehört zu werden.

Mit ausdrucksstarken Werken von Mari Esabel Valverde, Abbie Betinis, Leoš Janáček, Melissa Etheridge und anderen feiert Cantus den unbezwingbaren Geist und die zeitlose Anziehungskraft der Liebe in all ihren Facetten. Begleiten Sie Cantus auf einer faszinierenden Entdeckungsreise durch das bleibende Vermächtnis der Liebe – ein Zeugnis für Widerstandskraft, Leidenschaft und jene grenzenlose Kraft, die die Zeit selbst überdauert.

Cantus

Cantus
Now in its 32nd season, the “engaging” (New Yorker) low-voice ensemble Cantus is widely known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The Washington Post has hailed the Cantus sound as having both “exalting finesse” and “expressive power” and refers to the “spontaneous grace” of its music making. The Philadelphia Inquirer called the group nothing short of “exquisite.” As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus has come to prominence with its distinctive approach to creating music. Working without a conductor, the members of Cantus rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to the entirety of the artistic process, creating programs that give voice to shared human experiences. As the Star Tribune has written, “The main hallmark of the Cantus sound has always been sheer quality and an unbroken belief in the special way that vocal music has of warming and invigorating the human spirit.” Cantus enjoys a vigorous schedule of national and international touring, in addition to home concerts in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota. Cantus has performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, UCLA, San Francisco Performances, Yale Schwarzman Center, Tanglewood and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. Cantus also makes all of its home concerts available online. This pandemic-prompted innovation has brought the ensemble’s programs to audiences spanning 50 states and sixteen countries.

Cantus records for the UK-based Signum Classics label which has released the popular COVID-19 Sessions, Manifesto, Fields of Wonder, Alone Together, holiday album Into the Light, and, in August 2026, The Secret Letter. Cantus also has a deep catalog of recordings released on the group’s eponymous label.

Committed to the expansion of the vocal music repertoire, Cantus actively commissions new music and seeks to unearth rarely performed repertoire for low voices. Cantus has received commissioning grants from New Music USA, the National Endowment for the Arts, Chorus America, American Composers Forum and Chamber Music America. In 2023, Cantus was honored with the Alice Parker Fund Award from Chorus America that recognizes the exemplary work of an ensemble that respectfully and authentically presents works incorporating Black and Latinx traditions and experiences. In line with Cantus’ ongoing commitment to fostering new works for tenors, baritones, and basses, the ensemble has partnered with composer and former Cantus bass Timothy C. Takach and Graphite Publishing on the Cantus Choral Series, distributing Cantus’ signature arrangements and compositions for ensembles everywhere to perform and enjoy.

Cantus has a rich history of collaborations with other performing arts organizations, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Boston Pops, The King’s Singers, Chanticleer, the Swingles, the Canadian Brass, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Lorelei Ensemble, Theater Latté Da and the James Sewell Ballet. The ensemble is heard frequently on both classical public radio nationwide and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Integral to the Cantus mission is its commitment to preserve and strengthen music education in schools. Cantus works with more than 5,000 students each year in masterclass and workshop settings across the country and has been in-residence in 31 Minnesota high schools throughout the 15-year history of their award-winning High School Residency program. In the 2023-24 season, Cantus deepened its commitment to students by creating the High School Mentorship program, which offers Cantus artists in-residence at one Twin Cities-based high school for the entirety of the school year. Cantus has also broadened its work by launching a yearly, statewide festival in partnership with American Choral Directors Association Minnesota catered to high school tenor and bass singers. Additionally, the ensemble hosts a biennial Cantus Commission Competition to encourage the creation of new repertoire through cash prizes, a performance, recording, and potential publication of winning composers.

Booklet für The Secret Letter