This week, Seraphic Fire invites audiences across South Florida to experience one of the most atmospheric programs of the season. Candlelight transforms the concert space into a glowing sanctuary of sound, where the human voice takes center stage and music unfolds in an intimate, reflective setting.
Led by guest conductor Arianne Abela in her Seraphic Fire debut, this program explores themes of water and nature through choral music spanning centuries. From ancient chant to contemporary works, the program moves between serenity and power, capturing the beauty and unpredictability of the natural world.
A Tradition of Candlelit Choral Music
Seraphic Fire has been presenting candlelit choral programs in South Florida for more than two decades. Long before candlelight concerts became a popular trend, the ensemble recognized the unique connection between atmosphere and sound.
Founder and artistic director Patrick Dupre Quigley reflects on the tradition simply:
“Choral music has been performed by candlelight since the beginning of choral music.”
The setting allows audiences to focus on the subtleties of the human voice. The glow of candles softens the space, heightening awareness of vocal colors, harmonies, and resonance.
It is an experience that feels both ancient and immediate.
A Program Inspired by Water and Nature
Guest conductor Arianne Abela shaped the program around the many emotional dimensions of water. The repertoire moves from calm and contemplative moments to music that captures the force and unpredictability of nature.
“When I found out the performances would be candlelit, I started thinking about how to create an immersive experience,” Abela says.
Her goal is to guide listeners through a musical landscape that reflects nature’s beauty and power.
The program begins with chant and early choral works, grounding the experience in the ancient traditions of vocal music. From there, the concert travels through centuries of repertoire, revealing how composers have long drawn inspiration from the natural world.
Near the end of the program, audiences will hear an unexpected musical moment inspired by Disney’s Bambi, when Abela leads the ensemble in Little April Shower.
The Power of the Human Voice
Unlike many classical performances, Candlelight features voices alone without instrumental accompaniment.
For Abela, that makes the experience even more personal.
“Singing is such a part of being human because our own voices are the instrument,” she says. “When people sing together without instruments, the vibrations are incredibly special.”
In the candlelit space, that vulnerability becomes part of the experience. The singers and audience share the same atmosphere, creating a musical moment that feels immediate and deeply human.
A Conductor with Vision
Abela serves as Director of the Choral Program at Amherst College and Artistic Director of the Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble. She gained national attention when her Connecticut-based ensemble, 3 Penny Chorus and Orchestra, reached the semifinals of Season 8 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent.
Her approach to programming blends artistic depth with imagination, something that drew Seraphic Fire’s artistic committee to invite her for this program.
“She is an incredibly talented and innovative conductor,” Quigley says. “She has an exciting way of programming repertoire, and this program about water is pretty spectacular. It ranges from very old music to very new music.”
Join Us for Candlelight
The program will be performed this week across South Florida:
- Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 PM | Moorings Presbyterian, Naples
- Friday, March 20 at 7:30 PM | St. Philip’s Episcopal, Coral Gables
- Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 PM | All Saints Episcopal, Ft. Lauderdale
- Sunday, March 22 at 4:00 PM | St. Gregory’s Episcopal, Boca Raton
The season concludes in April with Surround Sound, conducted by Patrick Dupre Quigley, an extraordinary spatial concert where singers perform from throughout the performance space.
Tickets are available at seraphicfire.org/tickets or by calling 305.285.9060. Do not miss the chance to hear Florida’s only GRAMMY-nominated professional choir in one of the most unique concert experiences of the year.
