Cantori New York, led by Mark Shapiro, Artistic Director, opens its 35th season with an electrifying program honoring the centenary of the Armistice that ended World War I. The program features two premieres and a special improvised performance from one of the composers.Prominent French composer Thierry Escaich, artistic and spiritual heir to Duruflé and Messiaen, sets a gripping war narrative by best-selling novelist Laurent Gaudé, for chorus, speaker, accordion, eight cellos and percussion. Conductor Mark Shapiro’s English translation of the spoken text lends a searing immediacy to Escaich’s seismic music. Exciting guest performers include Young Concert Artist Hanzhi Wang (accordion) and recent Juilliard graduate Philip Stoddard(speaker).

Escaich, who has been lauded as one of the world’s most skilled musical improvisers, will perform a brief set of organ improvisations at each concert — a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those lucky enough to be in the audience.

Our concert will close with a new cycle for chorus and cello duet by New York composer Philip Lasser, setting texts by Frost, Hemingway and e. e. cummings, offering wisdom, sensitivity and healing.