FIAF and Sylark Vocal Ensemble Present CLEAR VOICES IN THE DARK, 4/27

The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) and Skylark Vocal Ensemble present Clear Voices in the Dark, an evening of French and American song on Thursday, April 27 at FIAF's Florence Gould Hall. The nationally acclaimed chamber group will perform an immersive concert interspersing songs from the American Civil War with Francis Poulenc's challenging and rarely performed Figure Humaine in a special 70th-anniversary presentation.

Formed in 2011 by Artistic Director Matthew Guard, Skylark is a premiere a cappella vocal ensemble of leading American vocal soloists based in Atlanta and Boston. Skylark's music has been described as "sublimely beautiful" (Opera Obsession), and the group's lustrous voices have been praised for their ability to "sway you softly into calm and then all but throw you across the room with sheer harmonic force" ("Music for Writers," Thought Catalog).

Skylark brings its signature thoughtful and thought-provoking approach to music programming in Clear Voices in the Dark, presented to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the French premiere of Poulenc'sFigure

Humaine, arguably one of the greatest works ever composed for unaccompanied choir. Written in 1943 in occupied France and composed in secret, Figure Humaine was not premiered in Paris until the spring of 1947.

An extremely difficult work, the piece is based on resistance-inspired poems by Paul Éluard, and is a stunning exploration of the grim realities of war, culminating in an optimistic and embattled cry for liberty in the face of oppression.

Interspersed between Poulenc's stirring and complex settings, Skylark will perform simpler but no less moving songs from the American Civil War era, from well-known pieces that have remained in the popular consciousness to beautiful war-inspired songs that have long since been forgotten, which Skylark Artistic

Director Matthew Guard recently discovered through research at the Duke University Historical Archives.

"I think art borne out of a time of societal turmoil can be even more profound, and can shed light today on what it was like to live through tragedies of the past," says Guard. "We hope to take you on an emotional and historical journey, a journey that we hope will illuminate the struggles of people who experienced these two great wars, a journey that can shed light on nightmares of the past through the art that emerged from them, and most importantly, a journey that will affirm the incredible power of the human spirit to endure in times of tragedy."

In addition to bringing Clear Voices in the Dark to New York, Skylark will perform the program in the greater

Boston area from April 23-25, and on April 29 in Washington, D.C. at the New York Avenue Presbyterian

Church, President Abraham Lincoln's parish.

The duration of the concert is 65 minutes with no intermissions.

In English and in French.

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About Skylark Vocal Ensemble

Skylark Vocal Ensemble strives to set the standard for innovative, engaging, well-researched, and dramatically presented programs that re-define the choral experience for audiences and singers alike. Since its founding in 2011 in Atlanta and Boston, Skylark has branched out to perform its masterful programs in museums, concert halls, and churches across the United States. Skylark artists are among the most talented vocal artists and music educators in the United States, and perform with other internationally renowned groups including Blue Heron, The Handel & Haydn Society, Lorelei, The Phoenix Chorale, Sante Fe Desert Chorale, Seraphic Fire, Trinity Wall Street, and the Yale Choral Artists. Skylark's most recent album Crossing Over, which features music that explores the mystery of the end of mortal life and the possibilities of a life beyond, was released to critical acclaim on the Grammy Award-winning record label Sono Luminus in spring 2016. Also in 2016, Skylark made its debut at Atlanta's celebrated Spivey Hall with a chamber performance of Rachmaninov's All-Night Vigil. In 2018, the group will make its international debut at Tenebrae's Holy Week Festival at St. John's Smith Square in London. A not-for-profit entity, Skylark performs educational outreach programs with high school and college students across the United States during its concert tours.

About Matthew Guard

Conductor, entrepreneur, and business strategist Matthew Guard founded Skylark initially as an experiment in returning to the world of music after a career in the private sector. The ensemble has become the fulfillment of his lifelong dream. Guard is earning a reputation as one of the most innovative and thoughtful programmers in American choral music. Praised for his "catalyzing leadership" (Q2/WQXR) and "musically creative and intellectually rich" programming (Opera Obsession), Guard is passionate about communicating something unique in each concert and recording. Guard scours the world of available repertoire for each program, exhaustively researches each piece, and crafts concerts that captivate audiences with their hidden connections and seamless artistry. Guard has always had a deep love for choral music, studying conducting and music theory in college, and conducting over 150 concerts as the Music Director of the Harvard Krokodiloes, Harvard's oldest a cappella group. Guard earned his MBA from Emory University, and spent five years as a business strategy consultant.

With Carolyn Guard, Skylark's Executive Director, he was also part of the founding team of Babiators, a lifestyle brand of children's products named one of "America's Most Promising Companies" by Forbes in 2014 and to the Inc. 5000 in 2016. Guard's true passion has always remained in the arts, and for choral music in particular. Since founding Skylark, he has been fortunate to benefit from the advice and mentorship of phenomenal conductors and teachers, including Jameson Marvin, Simon Carrington, and Vance George. Much of his musical knowledge has arisen from self-study and practical experience, and he considers his ongoing education with the singers of Skylark to be one of the most invigorating and enriching experiences of his life.

About FIAF

The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) is New York's premiere French cultural and language center. FIAF's mission is to create and offer New Yorkers innovative and unique programs in education and the arts that explore the evolving diversity and richness of French cultures. FIAF seeks to generate new ideas and promote cross cultural dialogue through partnerships and new platforms of expression. www.fiaf.org

Merci!

Program Sponsors: Air France and Delta Air Lines, American Society of the French Legion of Honor, Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Edmond de Rothschild Foundations, Engie, French American Cultural Exchange (FACE), Florence Gould Foundation, Hermès Foundation within the framework of the New Settings Program, Howard Gilman Foundation, Institut français, JCDecaux, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), Office de Tourisme de Boulogne-Billancourt, and Pommery

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LISTING SUMMARY

What:	Skylark Vocal Ensemble: Clear Voices in the Dark
When:	Thursday, April 27 at 7:30pm
Where:	FIAF - Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street (between Park & Madison Avenue)
Tickets:	800 982 2787 | fiaf.org
Information:	212 355 6160 | fiaf.org
Admission:	$25 FIAF Members; $30 Non-Members; $10 Students w/ ID
Transportation:	4, 5, 6, N, R and Q to 59th Street & Lexington Avenue
	F to 63rd Street & Lexington Avenue; E to 53rd Street & 5th Avenue

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