Francis Poulenc’s Figure Humaine is one of the greatest works ever composed for unaccompanied choir – composed in 1943 in occupied France, and based on resistance-inspired poems by Paul Éluard, it is an exploration of the grim realities of war, culminating in an optimistic and embattled cry for liberty in the face of oppression. Clear Voices in the Dark, is a powerful cross-cultural statement about the expressive power of the arts, and specifically the human voice, in times of tragedy. Interspersed between Poulenc’s stirring and complex settings, Skylark offers musical images from the American Civil War era and the premiere of Benedict Sheehan’s new arrangement of “America the Beautiful.”
About Skylark
Six-time GRAMMY-nominated Skylark creates moments that may live with you for the rest of your life.
Our programs live at the intersection of extraordinary artistry and visionary conception. An exploration of hidden musical codes with bestselling author Dan Brown. A meditation on human hope and resistance weaving Francis Poulenc’s wartime Figure Humaine with American Civil War songs. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with Tony Award-winner Christine Baranski at the Morgan Library & Museum, home to the original manuscript. An exploration of mathematics and music at MIT. Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles performed at the Hispanic Society of America. A candlelit program of medieval to modern sacred works at the Met Cloisters. A collaboration with celebrated chef Daniel Boulud for La Vie En Rose.
Critical acclaim from BBC Radio 3, The Times of London, Gramophone Magazine, and Limelight Australia. Featured in The New York Times and Associated Press. Fourteen albums. Six GRAMMY nominations. Recent recordings distributed by LSO Live.
Founded in 2011 by artistic director Matthew Guard, Skylark maintains deep roots in Massachusetts and New York.
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