Tapestry Choral Collective

Composed in 1915, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, transforms the ancient traditions of Russian Orthodox worship into a vast landscape of unaccompanied human voices. Across fifteen movements, ancient chants and chant-like melodies unfold in rich harmonies, from hushed prayer and cavernous basses to radiant choral light. The music traces a spiritual journey from evening darkness toward dawn and resurrection, joining centuries-old tradition to Rachmaninoff’s unmistakable warmth and expressive power. Premiered in Moscow as a wartime benefit, the Vigil was soon threatened by Soviet suppression of sacred music, yet endured as one of choral music’s most luminous acts of devotion and consolation.

Songs of Praise and Stars brings together timeless masterpieces and contemporary voices in a luminous program celebrating wonder, faith, and the beauty of the natural world. In collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Tapestry Choral Collective explores music spanning more than three centuries, featuring two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s magnificent cantatas—Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren (BWV 137) and Jesu, der du meine Seele (BWV 78)—alongside Swedish Baroque composer Johan Helmich Roman’s joyful Jubilate and the North American premiere of a captivating new work by Karin Rehnqvist, one of Sweden’s most celebrated living composers. Featuring nationally recognized vocal soloists drawn from within Tapestry’s own ensemble, this extraordinary collaboration reveals a musical tradition in which individual artistry and collective excellence come together in moments of profound beauty and expression.

Modern Tapestries celebrates the bold imagination and expressive depth of contemporary choral music through three remarkable works by living composers. The program journeys from the driving rhythms and striking sonorities of Estonian composer Tauno Aints’ Vitsas—a concerto for choir and electric guitar receiving its North American premiere—to the haunting, luminous beauty of John Duggan’s Lamentations for choir and flugelhorn, and the rhythmic vitality and vibrant vocal artistry of Kile Smith’s Jazz. Throughout the performance, an ensemble of distinguished professional singers and guest instrumentalists demonstrate the choir’s extraordinary versatility – capable of breathtaking power, intimate nuance, and a spectrum of vocal colors – inviting audiences on a journey of discovery where innovation and artistry unite in an unforgettable musical experience.