This December, Winter Harp returns to stages across BC on its 10-city concert tour, with performances on the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
Over the decades since its first moving performances, this acclaimed ensemble has become renowned for delivering beautiful, soul-stirring presentations. Concerts are “must-see” events on holiday calendars, with many audience members returning year after year—passing the Winter Harp tradition on to new generations.
What has audiences returning again and again is the sheer wonder of the concert experience that captures the joyful spirit of the season.
On stage, Winter Harp’s outstanding musicians and singers, clad in colorful medieval attire, perform a collection of music ranging from familiar carols to Celtic and medieval carols. The hauntingly beautiful music features a fascinating combination of harps, drums, temple bells, flutes, bass flute, viola and an assortment of rare medieval instruments. These include the bass psaltery, organistrum, hurdy-gurdy and nyckelharpa.
“Winter Harp’s estimable players make one feel as though they’ve stepped into a pre-Raphaelite painting,” writes the Winnipeg Free Press. “Candlelight flickers off golden harps played by angelic musicians clad in velvet gowns, their ethereal music shining like a silvery moon in the darkest nights of December. Flute, percussion, medieval instruments, vocals and readings complete the experience.”
This year’s ensemble of outstanding artists includes Lauri Lyster (percussion, vocals), Jeff Pelletier (flute, bass flute, hurdy-gurdy, vocals), Lani Krantz (classical harp, vocals), Hayley Farenholtz (Celtic harp, vocals), Bruce Henczel (nyckelharpa, viola, bass psaltery, percussion, vocals), Emma Verret (vocalist) and Adam Henderson (narrator, percussion, organistrum).
Winter Harp comes to Victoria at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall (907 Pandora Avenue) on Friday, December 9 at 7:30 pm. Learn more and purchase tickets ($45.46) at winterharp.com.