CANCELED: Areté Vocal Ensemble

Following a moving and memorable performance in November, Areté returns to the stage to conclude its 11th season. In response to an outpouring of requests, the innovative professional ensemble of vocal artists gives a repeat performance of Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella-Johnson.

In 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in a lonely field under a blanket of stars. Two decades later, Johnson has responded with his first concert length work. This three-part fusion oratorio speaks with a fresh and bold voice, incorporating a variety of musical styles woven into a unified whole. Johnson sets to music a wide range of poetic and soulful texts as well as passages from Shepard’s personal journal and his parents’ interviews and writings. The Washington Post wrote, “Considering Matthew Shepard demonstrates music’s capacity to encompass, transform and transcend tragedy. Powerfully cathartic, it leads us from horror and grief to a higher understanding of the human condition, enabling us to endure.”

With uncompromising attention to musical detail and a passion for live performance, Areté provides a joyful, moving, educational and soul-nurturing experience. Wyant Morton conducts.

Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 if purchased online in advance. Tickets for students with ID are $10 and free for children under 12. For information and to purchase tickets, visit www.aretevocalensemble.org.