The Finnish premiere of Eric Whitacre’s The Sacred Veil at Kangasala Arts Centre
The Sacred Veil (2018) is a 12-movement choral collaboration between composer Eric Whitacre
and poet and lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri telling a story of life, love and loss. Written for choir,
cello, and piano, the piece has become one of the most moving choral compositions of the 21st
century worldwide.
The work was inspired by Silvestri’s idea of a veil that separates the world of the living and those
who have passed. Silvestri’s wife Julie died of ovarian cancer at the age of 36, leaving behind a
grieving husband and two young children.
The Sacred Veil allows the listener space to grieve and features intimate reflections by Silvestri,
Whitacre, and Julie herself. The interplay between music and text follows the journey of a soul
across the threshold between finitude and eternity into and, ultimately, out of this life.
This powerful choral work is now performed for the first time in Finland in its entirety. The awardwinning Kamarikuoro Näsi is conducted by Julia Lainema. Eero Vahtola performs on cello and
Hanna-Leena Savolainen on piano.
“The central idea of The Sacred Veil is how, at moments of birth and death, the veil between life
and the afterlife opens slightly, and our loved ones who have passed on are especially close to us.
Kamarikuoro Näsi is honoured to perform this artistically and emotionally demanding work in the
atmospherically unique Kangasala Hall,” says artistic director Julia Lainema.
The proceeds from the concert will support the Finnish Cancer Foundation. We will donate 2 €
from each ticket sold to the Pink Ribbon campaign to fund breast and gynecological cancers’
research in Finland.
The Sacred Veil
1. The Veil Opens
2. In a Dark and Distant Year
3. Home
4. Magnetic Poetry
5. Whenever There Is Birth
6. I’m Afraid
7. I Am Here
8. Delicious Times
9. One Last Breath
10. Dear Friends
11. You Rise, I Fall
12. Child of Wonder
Produced by Kangasala Arts Centre and Kamarikuoro Näsi
