Seraphic Fire concluded its 23rd season with Surround Sound, a breathtaking program that immersed audiences in a world of extraordinary vocal color and spatial artistry. Conducted by Patrick Dupre Quigley, this final program of the season offered a fitting and memorable conclusion to his 24-year tenure as Artistic Director.
Critic David Fleshler described the performances as producing “otherworldly sound” and praised the ensemble’s expressive depth and remarkable clarity. With singers positioned throughout the performance space, Surround Sound transformed each venue into a resonant instrument, allowing audiences to experience the human voice in a uniquely powerful way.
The program demonstrated the artistic qualities that have defined Seraphic Fire for more than two decades: precision, warmth, and an ability to create deeply meaningful musical experiences.
For this program, Seraphic Fire was joined by eight singers from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and eight singers from the University of Miami Frost School of Music as part of the Ensemble Artist Program - an apprenticeship training program for pre-professional singers. These emerging artists performed alongside Seraphic Fire’s world-class singers and the Seraphic Fire Period Orchestra, creating a powerful collaboration that reflects the organization’s commitment to mentorship and artistic development.
A Program of Remarkable Beauty and Transparency
Fleshler noted that distributing singers throughout the space created not only a sense of grandeur but also exceptional musical clarity. Works such as Tomás Luis de Victoria’s Agnus Dei revealed a rich transparency, with musical lines emerging and blending naturally within the church's acoustics.
One of the most striking moments of the evening came in Knut Nystedt’s Immortal Bach, a work inspired by Bach’s Komm, süsser Tod. As singers sustained overlapping tones as they moved through the space, the music created slowly evolving harmonies that felt suspended in time. Fleshler described the effect as both captivating and otherworldly, demonstrating the extraordinary expressive capabilities of the human voice.
Caroline Shaw’s and the swallow offered another memorable highlight, combining moments of stillness with soaring vocal lines that conveyed both grief and comfort. The performance reflected the ensemble’s ability to balance emotional sensitivity with technical precision.
The program concluded with music of Claudio Monteverdi, a composer closely associated with Seraphic Fire’s artistic identity. Ave Maris Stella provided one of the most immersive surround-sound experiences of the evening, with voices positioned throughout the venue, creating a luminous and resonant musical conclusion.
Patrick Dupre Quigley’s Last Concert as Artistic Director
These performances also marked Patrick Dupre Quigley’s final concerts as Artistic Director, concluding a remarkable 23-season chapter in the organization’s history. Over more than two decades, Patrick transformed Seraphic Fire from a small church-based ensemble into an internationally recognized vocal group admired for innovative programming and exceptional artistry.
Throughout his tenure, Patrick expanded the organization’s artistic reach while remaining deeply committed to the expressive power of the human voice. His leadership helped shape Seraphic Fire into one of the finest vocal ensembles in the country, known for performances that connect audiences to music spanning centuries.
Patrick now transitions into the role of Artistic Director Laureate and will remain an important part of Seraphic Fire’s future. Audiences will have the opportunity to see him return to the podium next season to conduct One for All in January 2027, a program celebrating more than one thousand years of repertoire written for men’s voices.
We are deeply grateful for Patrick’s artistic leadership and the lasting legacy he leaves for both the ensemble and the broader musical community.
Subscriptions Are Now On Sale for the 2026–2027 Season
As we celebrate this important milestone, we also look ahead to the next chapter under GRAMMY Award-winning conductor James K. Bass, who begins his first full season as Artistic Director in 2026–2027.
Season 24 features seven inspiring programs, including Serenade to Music, Blue Notes, Noel: An Old World Christmas, One for All, Northern Lights, American Poets, and Misa Criolla. Each program reflects Seraphic Fire’s continued commitment to artistic excellence and meaningful musical experiences.
Subscriptions went on sale Thursday, April 9, and early demand has been strong.
We encourage audiences to secure subscriptions soon to access the best available seats before inventory becomes limited. Subscribing early provides the greatest flexibility in selecting preferred concert dates and seating locations across South Florida venues.
Join us next season as we continue building on this extraordinary artistic foundation.
