Vocal Explosion wowing the Stade audience last summer.
Emotional journey with Vocal Explosion
Celebrating musical traditions from across the globe is what Vocal Explosion is all about. Ahead of their first concert of 2014, Hannah Collisson talks to the choir’s director Juliet Russell.
From the lively to the soul-wrenching, Vocal Explosion choir present their new set The Music of The Gypsies, which is inspired by upbeat wedding music and passionate laments from Eastern Europe, in the stunning acoustic of St Clements Church, Hastings Old Town.
The concert will take place on Saturday 22 March, and will feature a solo performance by director Juliet Russell, a singer and composer in her own right, whose voice has been described by The Stage as “brilliantly haunting”.
Juliet Russell, the moving force behind the choir.
She said: “The idea is that the audience will be taken on an incredible emotional journey from the upbeat to the soul-wrenching sounds of Gypsy laments.
“There are pieces from Bosnia, 17th century Sephardic Spain and iconic songs from the Romanian culture, which will give a taste of Eastern European vocal harmonies.”
The 40-strong choir, which comprises singers from Hastings and Rye, will be accompanied by talented instrumentalists, adding another dimension to an already powerful sound.
Juliet added: “Much of this music has not been widely heard, and is a perfect vehicle for a choir.”
This latest concert from the world music choir follows the success of Vocal Explosion’s Stade Saturdays 100 Voices project, which last summer brought together over 100 singers with some of the South-East’s leading musicians, including Liam Genockey (Steeleye Span) and Nana Tsiboe, and Our Big Gig, a community music event which saw 200 musicians led by Vocal Explosion singers take to The Stade in Hastings.
Juliet’s mission is to keep raising the profile of world music locally, and each term Vocal Explosion choir work to embrace a different world culture musically.
The choir is non-auditioning and open to all; however the standard remains incredibly high.
“The response from both singers and listeners alike has been extremely positive,” Juliet said.
“Our criterion with each set is musical excellence. In the summer term we will be working on a gospel set, so very different in flavour to this term.”
Juliet’s music has been heard and sung by over 40,000 people in over 30 countries and her compositions used in film, TV, radio, theatre and dance, and even performed in football stadiums. Now she is taking Hastings by storm.
The Music of the Gypsies, Vocal Explosion: St Clements Church, High Street, Hastings Old Town, Saturday 22 March, starts at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). Tickets are £8 for adults (including a complimentary glass of wine/soft drink) and £4 for children 13 years and under (including a complimentary soft drink).
Tickets are available in advance from B&T Music, 9 Claremont, Hastings (01424 434480) or SHOP, 32-34 Norman Road, St Leonards (07763 579908), or on the door.
To find out more about the choir visit the website or Facebook page, or email Juliet at vocalexplosionchoir@gmail.com.
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