SOTERIA
[so-tay-ree’-ah]
deliverance, preservation; in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the soul’s safety or salvation.
Produced by Mount Royal University’s Artio Choir, Soteria: The Spirit of Persistence, is a whirlwind of a journey that “explores the resilience and unconquerable spirit that drives all of humanity” through different genres of music. With a strong vocal use of fast and slow tempos, aesthetically-pleasing backdrops, and soulful interpretive dances, Soteria is definitely one to stand out from the many performing arts shows I’ve seen!
After getting our tickets from the Box Office, my dad and I made our way inside the Wright Theatre. We sat 3 rows from the front, where we had a great view of the stage, the accompanist (Colin Redekop), and string quartet (Lily String Quartet). The show began with conductor, Jean-Louis Bleau, making a small speech about the story behind Soteria and how it is based off William Ernest Henley‘s poem, Invictus:
“Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.”
Jean-Louis Bleau went on to funnily describe how an Artio Choir’s rehearsal can be described as a “productive anarchy” of people who have courage and a passion for music.
The concert started shortly after, beginning with soft piano notes, and the choir coming out in torn-up white costumes and streaked face paint. The first song, “PAKKANEN“, was an African-inspired performance with the dancers moving expressively with their arms and body. As for the other members, they would group together in one spot of the stage to give focus on the dancers or soloists. This definitely set the tone for the show, as “Artio” specializes in showing off the variation of a person’s voice. I was also quick to realize that the songs sung by the choir are subject to personal interpretation in terms of the mood and atmosphere they were trying to convey.
With the next 3 songs, “LA OTRA“, “SPOTTED SNAKES“, and “DAEMON IRREPIT CALLIDUS“, the choir made use of the confusion, hardships, and frantic feelings humans go through in everyday life. At one point, the dancers were just black silhouettes using their arms and legs to mimic waves and the wind, with the cello playing in the background. The lighting would also change to red to show chaos and haunt the audience. This section definitely accentuated the fact that lighting and music can change the mood in a heartbeat!
In another change of pace, “CIRCUMDEDERUNT” displayed the choir’s ability to go from quick-paced songs to those more suited for church. This section was accompanied with a blue background meant to reflect the heavenly vibe of the performance. A sense of hope and peace was established among the performers and audience.
However, I easily found out that while serenity can be nice, a song like “UNKNOWN REGION” knows that the feeling does not last long. Rewinding to an immense tempo and volume change, coupled with dark blue and purple backgrounds, this showed the inner turmoil that can go on in a human’s mind.
But much like the spirit of soteria, we are carried “into the light of another day” in the choir’s rendition of the composed “INVICTUS“. Both the warm and cool tones of the orange and purple background was a true reflection of the mixture of sadness and pressure we all face. Although this is the case, we are also given the chance to face our fears and be the “captain of our soul”. This revelation can be seen and felt as the dancers fluidly move their way across the stage in hopes of finding a choir member willing to take their hand and be their companion.
Moving into one of the most enlightening sections of the performance, “STARS” was the song that left me awestruck as the choir utilized the glass harp. This musical innovation is played by running moistened or chalked fingers around the rim of several wine glasses that are filled up with varying amounts of water to achieve the desired pitch. As seen in the video below, each member plays a wine glass to create a dreamy sound that can send shivers down your spine. And like the song suggests, a background of stars was displayed as the somber atmosphere was felt by those who watched.
And finally, the last song of the night, “LUMINOUS NIGHT OF THE SOUL” was beautifully accompanied by the piano and string quartet comprising of three violins and a cello. This brought the choir together in front of a background that transitioned to the bold colors of the Northern Lights. Four dancers once again moved in the likes of something you’d see in nature, while holding hands from time to time. Although the concert was coming to an end, the Artio Choir did not part ways without their voices and the violins sending a clear message of adventure and hope that we will all find our way in this world.
All in all, Soteria: The Spirit of Persistence, was a mesmerizing concert that I am happy to have experienced! Thank you to YAA and Mount Royal University for making this opportunity happen! With resilience being a topic I have been exposed to, I am glad that it is an aspect that pops up in different artistic forms. Despite the highs and lows of our lives, I hope we can all cherish the enlightenment found through soteria.
“There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” – Jack Kerouac
Best wishes,
Kandace 🙂