DEO GRATIAS

DEO GRATIAS - An exhilarating, Opera-filled Gala.

2019-2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the Lydians as a musical organization in Trinidad and Tobago. On Friday 13th December 2019 at Queen's Hall, all were invited to the festive opening of the launch of a year of musical and non-musical events in celebration of this joyous milestone. The annual Christmas concert entitled DEO GRATIAS, ran from the 12th to 15th December, and began the anniversary year, which will conclude in September 2020.

In 1979, the Lydian Singers gathered at the Bishop Anstey High School Port of Spain for its first rehearsals under then music teacher Joyce Spence, with one mission in mind - to debut a masterful performance at the T&T Music Festival of the following year. The choir began with ladies only, and under Mrs. Spence, 1980 proved a most successful launch for the Lydians, who, since then, have gone on to maintain an impressive, national winning streak to capture over 30 championship trophies at the Festival. In 1984, Ms. Alma Pierre took direction of the choir, in and 1987, Dr. Pat Bishop  T.C., D.Litt Hon. agreed to take up the baton until her passing in 2011.

Under the baton of the third musical director, Dr. Pat Bishop, the Lydian Singers were expanded and grew into a new identity - "The Lydians" comprising steelpan players, African and Tassa drummers, dancers, visual artists and other treasured creative collaborators. The Lydians flourished to become one of the foremost musical organizations in the country with multiple accolades including a national award - the Hummingbird Medal - Gold for excellence in music and community service. Under cultural icon and musical stalwart Dr. Pat Bishop, the Lydians also earned a celebrated career in Opera productions, completing five (5) fully-staged works performed from great halls to steel panyards, each with exquisite commitment to Classical singing quality with a signature Trinbagonian artistic flair.

DEO GRATIAS featured a Gala evening performance on Friday 13th December 2019 at the Queen's Hall Auditorium, which showcased excerpts from all five of the Lydians' operatic works; from the tale of an African Prince KOANGA to the wily Dr. Dulcamara peddling his elixir of love in the French-inspired L'ELISIR D'AMORE. The Lydians will take you on a journey to Peking, China where Liu the servant girl will sing of her devotion and love to the aloof Princess TURANDOT, then to the festive, Native American-inspired wedding feast with the great singer Chibiabos from 'Scenes from the Song of HIAWATHA' and finally, to the steelpan yard for the Trini-Greek interpreted tragedy ORPHEUS & EURIDICE to be tormented by the furies of the underworld.

The composers of these major works - Frederick Delius, Gaetano Donizetti, Giacomo Puccini, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Christoph Willibald Gluck may have never dreamed that a choral group from the English-speaking Caribbean called the Lydians would ever perform their music, and certainly not with such uniquely Caribbean flavour and yet here we are. Standing proudly at 40 years a musical organization, with a musical legacy encompassing an impressive range of music for which we are deeply grateful and will forever say....Deo Gratias!

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DEO GRATIAS! (Latin)
"Thanks Be To God!"
Queen's Hall

[ABOUT THE SHOW]
"Deo Gratias" (in Latin, "Thanks Be To God!"). The Lydians are giving thanks to God for the 40 years of music, for the musical directors who have shaped us and for the goodwill, kindness and support of everyone who has helped us along the way! For this year's Christmas Story, the Lydians will be visited by three Musical Muses, all representing Lydians music of the past, present and future. They will represent a celebration of the musical evolution of the Lydians personifying the songs we have sung, played and presented through the years. They will also lead us into the future, together, in the spirit of our mission of music to the nation and the world. The concert will feature some of our greatest Christmas hits, show-stopping pieces from our 40-year repertoire, excerpts from 5 performed Operas and a sprinkle of new music and arrangements from our Calypso and Parang traditions.

[SHOW DATES, TIMES, TICKET PRICES]
Thursday 12th December, 2019 - 7:30 pm *Friends of The Lydians Night [$150]
Friday 13th December, 2019 - 7:30 p.m. *Gala Anniversary Performance [$350 General, $400 Special Reserved]
Saturday 14th December, 2019 - 7:30 p.m. [General Admission: $200 Special Reserved: $250]
Sunday 15th December, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. [General Admission: $200 Special Reserved: $250]
 

Special $25-OFF discount available to card-carrying TTARP members and Tertiary education students (ID required). Redeemable at Queen's Hall Box Office for Friday, Saturday & Sunday shows only)
Ticket Hotlines: 268-9556/794-6391/338-6024
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