Seraphic Fire’s recent Candlelight program offered audiences an immersive musical journey shaped by the elements of water and nature, led by guest conductor Arianne Abela in her highly anticipated debut with the ensemble. In his South Florida Classical Review critique, Lawrence Budmen praised the program as a “rewarding elemental” experience, highlighting both the artistic range of the repertoire and Abela’s distinctive musical leadership.
Spanning centuries of choral music, the program demonstrated once again why Seraphic Fire is recognized as one of the finest vocal ensembles in the country.
A Distinctive Sound and Artistic Vision
Budmen noted that Abela drew a “distinct sound” from the ensemble, observing that the singers appeared “larger in sonority, vigorous in attack and more deftly balanced than usual.” Her interpretation of the repertoire, ranging from medieval chant to contemporary compositions, created a cohesive musical narrative grounded in the expressive power of the human voice.
The concert opened with Hildegard von Bingen’s O Frondens virgo, performed with what Budmen described as “serene purity.” Kodály’s Hegyi Éjszakák revealed a more harmonically adventurous sound world, while Don MacDonald’s Winter Sun evoked the image of sunlight emerging from winter stillness.
Together, these works established the atmospheric depth that defines the Candlelight experience.
Music That Captures the Power of Nature
The emotional centerpiece of the evening came with Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s Canticum calamitatis Maritimae, a dramatic portrayal of a historic Baltic Sea shipwreck. Budmen described the work as “powerfully evoking the tragedy,” with expressive solo moments adding depth to the musical narrative.
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s Super flumina babylonis followed with what Budmen called “exceptional” timbral beauty and clarity, demonstrating the ensemble’s ability to move seamlessly between historical styles.
From Monteverdi’s Ecco mormorar l’onde to Daniel Knaggs’ Sunset, the program explored how composers across centuries have drawn inspiration from the natural world.
Versatility Across Musical Styles
Budmen also highlighted the ensemble’s stylistic flexibility. Maurice Draughn’s Wade in the Water and Kristin Kuster’s Red Sky brought rhythmic vitality and energy to the program.
Selections such as Little April Shower by Frank Churchill and I Am a Cloud by Majel Connery illustrated the ensemble’s ability to connect with contemporary audiences while maintaining artistic refinement.
The program concluded with Eric Whitacre’s Water Night, delivered with “well-calibrated extremes of dynamics” that showcased the ensemble’s signature blend and control.
As an encore, the ensemble performed "How Far I’ll Go" from Disney’s Moana, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, a work that beautifully aligns with the program’s themes of water and nature. The song tells the story of a young girl navigating the tension between responsibility to her community and a deep pull toward the ocean, where water becomes a symbol of freedom and self-discovery. The performance received a tremendous standing ovation from an enthusiastic audience.
Budmen’s closing observation captured the impression left by the performance: Abela is “a conductor one wants to hear again.”
One Concert Remains This Season
Candlelight once again demonstrated the expressive range and artistic excellence that define Seraphic Fire’s performances.
Only one concert remains in the 2025–2026 season.
Surround Sound, conducted by Patrick Dupre Quigley, marks his final concert as Artistic Director after 24 seasons leading the organization he founded in 2002. Following this performance, Quigley will transition into his new role as Artistic Director Laureate, continuing to shape the future of Seraphic Fire in an advisory and artistic capacity.
The program offers a breathtaking spatial concert experience in which singers perform throughout the venue, surrounding the audience in sound inspired by the polychoral tradition.
With attendance and artistic momentum at an all-time high, this final program offers one more opportunity to experience live choral music at the highest level this season.
Subscription packages for the 2026–2027 season will go on sale Thursday, April 9. Audiences are encouraged to secure their seats early to access the best locations for next season’s performances.
Tickets for Surround Sound are available at seraphicfire.org/tickets or by calling 305.285.9060.
