Island Bel Canto singers want their voices to whisk listeners away to a landscape filled with pastoral beauty, fragrant spring flowers and a touch of bird song on the wind.
“I’d like them to find themselves … thinking about how the air feels in the springtime and how there is always a hint of bird song somewhere, with waves lapping or water trickling down the stream,” said Laurene Coleman, marketing chairwoman for the choir.
The choir hosts In the Garden, Songs of Love and Nature Sunday (May 5) 7:30 p.m. at the Nanaimo Ecumenical Centre, located at 6234 Spartan Rd.
The evening’s program includes Robbie Burns’ classic poem My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose by Canadian Composer Eleanor Daley and Eric Whitaker’s She Weeps Over Rahoon.
“I love the contrast between the classic and the contemporary,” said choir director Lionel Tanod, in a press release.
Other numbers include Scarborough Fair, Girl from Inpanema, What I Want, Edelweiss and Down by the Salley.
“[Down by the Salley] tells the story about a young man. For whatever reason he was impatient and his lady love wanted him to take love easy and he didn’t and he lost her and now he regrets it,” said Coleman. “It definitely brings to mind a picture of young lovers in a natural setting.”
The concert also features violinist Trish Clair who will be featured during the Five Hebrew Love Songs performance and will also present several pieces as well as with members of the Nanaimo Youth Fiddlers.
“One of our mandates as a choir is to try and provide a platform for young and aspiring musicians,” said Coleman.
Coleman has been a member of Island Bel Canto for about 10 years. She said she loves when audeince members are affected by her singing.
“It’s always wonderful to look out in the audience and see people who are visibly moved by what you are singing – that is a great feeling,” she said. “Even after people that are still in the moment don’t want to applaud because they want that moment to last a little longer – that is a great moment.”
Tickets for the performance are $15, children under 12 are free. They are available at Fascinating Rhythm, the Quilted Duck or www.islandbelcanto.com.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com