A collaboration of communities
Sirens and Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors together in concert on Nov. 17
Sirens will kick off its 2018-19 season with a concert that reflects on the fragility of the planet and the responsibility each person has to one another in “A Part of Me and You”.
This concert will be presented in collaboration with the Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors, best known for their multimedia theatrical work, “Mi’kmaq Legends.” The performance will take place on Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., at the Steel Recital Hall at UPEI.
Singers and actors will reflect on challenges like reconciliation, sustainability and taking action, with a particular focus on P.E.I.
Sirens will be joined by the Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors in the P.E.I. premiere of “Sorrow Song for Whales,” a work by Canadian composer Jeff Enns, with lyrics by P.E.I.’s poet laureate Deirdre Kessler, who based her lyrics on a Mi’kmaq legend as told by elder Matilda Knockwood Snache.
The song tells a parallel story to the original legend and contemplates the plight of whales and the shared responsibility to the earth.
The concert will also feature the world premiere of “Thee,” a new work by Island composer E.K.R. Hammell, based on a text by L.M. Montgomery. “Thee” is a reflection on heartbreak and the value of shared personal experiences.
Another piece, “How the Blossoms are Falling,” is a Canadian composition with text by Joy Kogawa, a Japanese-Canadian woman who was imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp during World War Two. The lyrics speak of forgiveness, moving forward and the natural evolution of life.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $10 for students. They can be purchased online or at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit sirenschoir.com/concerts.