For immediate release
Media inquiries: Rachel Tanenblatt rachel@baltimorechoralarts.org
Media kit available here

BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore Choral Arts launches its 60th anniversary season, Timeless Voices, with a bold reimagining of one of the choral repertoire’s greatest masterworks. On Sunday, October 12 at 4:00 p.m. at the historic Baltimore Basilica, Music Director Anthony Blake Clark will conduct Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil (Vespers), interwoven with new works that speak to the human spirit in times of struggle.

The concert begins with "Lux Aeterna" by contemporary Ukrainian composer Julija Ovseiciuk, a luminous invocation of light. Midway through the Vigil, Rachmaninoff’s traditional “Magnificat” movement will be replaced with "Requiem" by American songwriter Eliza Gilkyson, a heartfelt meditation originally composed following the Asian tsunami in December, 2004. Together, these programmatic changes transform the work from one of celebration to one that resonates with the current challenges faced in our world today.

“Rachmaninoff’s Vespers is one of the most timeless choral works ever written, but in this performance we’ve chosen to let contemporary voices speak alongside his. By beginning with a Ukrainian composer and replacing the ‘Magnificat’ with Eliza Gilkyson’s 'Requiem,' the program takes on a more somber, reflective character. It reminds us that timeless music is not just about the past—it can also give voice to the present struggles of people, in this case the Ukrainian people, and offer a space for both lament and hope,” said Music Director Anthony Blake Clark.

About Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil

Composed in 1915 against the backdrop of World War I and the coming Russian Revolution, Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil draws on centuries-old Orthodox chant traditions. Its premiere was met with wide acclaim, and it has since been hailed as one of the most profound achievements in a cappella choral music.

The Power of the A Cappella Voice

Performed entirely without instruments, the Vigil relies on the human voice alone, from the earth-shaking resonance of Russian basses to the soaring clarity of soprano lines. This unaccompanied sound world creates an atmosphere that is at once intimate and transcendent, immersing listeners in a musical space where time seems suspended.

Event Details

What: Rachmaninoff Vespers (All-Night Vigil) with works by Julija Ovseiciuk and Eliza Gilkyson
When: Sunday, October 12, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Where: The Baltimore Basilica, 409 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD
Who: Baltimore Choral Arts | Anthony Blake Clark, Music Director

Tickets start at $25; children 12 and under are free.

 

About Baltimore Choral Arts

Celebrating its 60th anniversary season, Baltimore Choral Arts is one of Maryland’s premier choral ensembles. Known for presenting masterworks old and new with precision and passion, Choral Arts fosters community through the shared power of song.