Carlmont choir performed their final show of the year in 14 different languages.
As the theme was “Language of Song,” the Singing Scots opened the show with a Brazilian ceremonial song, “Estrela e Lua Nova.” The choirs spread out onstage and around the audience to bring the music to life.
“[The show] was about bringing different cultures together through music by appreciating and learning about other music,” said Isabella Ravaglia, a junior and member of Treble Clef.
Sophomore and member of Women’s Choir Rachael Taube said, “The overall theme is to embrace and celebrate different languages we wouldn’t normally sing in.”
After the Singing Scots’ opening act, the show proceeded with the Women’s and Men’s Choirs, who sang songs from Kenya and Venezuela.
According to sophomore and member of Women’s Choi, Annika Nambiar, the song “La Paloma” is about a young girl contemplating her feelings.
“When rehearsing, we learned a lot more about the deeper meaning and emotions behind a lot of the lyrics relative to the time period and country the songs were created in. It helped us embody these emotions on stage,” said Nambiar.
Before intermission, the a capella groups performed. The group Fine Tuning performed the well-known song by The Tokens, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The group Out of the Blue performed “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” and “The Girl From Ipanema,” a song written by a Brazilian composer that became popular in the 1950s and 60s, as jazz was often associated with the Bossa Nova style portrayed in the song, according to the program notes.
After intermission, Concert Choir performed the song “Duerme Negrito,” a Latin American folk song, and Treble Clef sang “Witches Chorus” from “Macbeth.”
Finally, the Chamber Singers sang four songs from places ranging from the Philippines to Canada. In addition to singing, chamber singers Elsa Carreras, Snehal Pandey, and Devon Paragas the chance to conduct their fellow students as well.
The show ended with the Singing Scots on stage again singing “Irish Blessing.” Class of 2016 alumni were invited to join them in singing the closing song.
“It was a tradition that was started at last year’s spring concert,” Taube said, “I don’t know exactly why they chose that song in particular, but I do like it, and it’s really pretty.”
After a successful year and a performance in Carnegie Hall in New York City, most choir members were happy with how this last concert ended their year.
“I think the concert was a nice end to a really fun year, and a lot of people made good friends this year,” Ravaglia said. “It’s sad to see some of them [seniors] go, but you know they’re off to do great things.”
