Monterey Peninsula Voices performed its spring concert, "Celestial Voices," a musical journey that explored the stars, the heavens, and the mysteries of the celestial sky, celebrating the unity of the human spirit. Two performances were held at the First United Methodist Church in Pacific Grove on May 10 and 11, featuring a diverse repertoire, reflecting the awe and wonder inspired by the cosmos.
MPV performed a variety of pieces, from sacred to secular to jazz, and included music from such acclaimed composers as Ola Gjeilo, Elaine Hagenberg, Morten Lauridsen, Christopher Tin and others. Gjeilo’s “Dark Night of the Soul,” Haydn’s “The Heavens are Telling” from his major work “The Creation,” The Beatles’ “Across the Universe,” and popular tunes such as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Rewrite the Stars” from The Greatest Showman provided variety and musical beauty. A four-piece Chamber group accompanied the piano on many of the pieces.

Act I

Narrator 1. (Seán Boulware)
Measure Me, Sky!
Elaine Hagenberg, Composer
Words by Leonora Speyer

Narrator 2. (John Lett)
The Heavens Are Telling
From The Creation (1798)
Franz Joseph Haydn
Soloists: 
Michelle Boulware, Soprano;
Diane Ehlers, Contralto; 
John Lett, Baritone

Narrator 3. (Diane Ehlers)
Hine Ma Tov
Arranged by Neil Ginsberg
Flutist: Michelle Galindo; 
Pianist: Jon-Mark Hurley

Across the Universe
Arranged by Adam Podd
Words and music by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Soloists: 1st Duet – 
Rachel DeMaster, Soprano; Bob
Tilden, Baritone; 
2nd Duet: 
Christophe Geoffrey, Tenor;
Kathy Gallagher, Mezzo-Soprano

Narrator 4. (Rachel DeMaster)
The Majesty and Glory of Your Name
Tom Fettke, composer
Words by Linda Lee Johnson, based on Psalm 8

Evening Star
Music and words by Victor C. Johnson,
based on a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
Lars Anderson, Cello

Narrator 5. (Teri Nickells)
Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Words and Music by Bart Howard

INTERMISSION

Act II

Narrator 6. (Seán Boulware)
Tshotsholoza
Traditional South African
Adapted by Jeffery L. Ames
Soloist: Diane Ehlers

Narrator 7. (Teri Nickells)
Dark Night of the Soul
Music by Old Gjeilo
Text by St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Solist: Michelle Boulware, Soprano
Musicians: 
Don Dally, Violin 1; 
Cathy Good, Violin 2;
Miran McPoland, Viola; 
Lars Anderson, Cello

Moonlight Sound Design
Raimonds Tiguls, composer
Soloist: 
Rachel DeMaster, Soprano

Narrator 8. (Juliette Le)
Rewrite the Stars
(from The Greatest Showman)
Arranged by Roger Emerson
Words and Music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Soloists: 
Christophe Geoffrey, Tenor;
Rachel DeMaster, Soprano

Sure On This Shining Night
James Agee, Words / Morten Lauridsen, Composer

Narrator 9. (Julie Armstrong)
When Dreams Take Flight
Music by Rollo Dilworth
Text by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Deep Peace
Elaine Hagenberg, composer
Based on a Gaelic Blessing
Musicians: 
Don Dally, Violin 1, 
Cathy Good, Violin 2,
Miran McPoland, Viola, 
Lars Anderson, Cello

Narrator 10. (Dan Sakoda)
Sogno Di Volare
Music by Christopher Tin
Adapted from the writings of Leonardo de Vinci
by Chiara Cortez