Manchester Central Library play host to Kantos Chamber Choir delivering an intense evening of Brontë-inspired choral music and spoken word. In partnership with Library Live, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and the Brontë Parsonage Museum, BRONTË features powerful renditions of poetry and music to gentle, tear-jerking melodies. The performance is a rollercoaster of emotions, immersing the audience in the extraordinary lives of the Brontë sisters.
Directed and conducted by Ellie Sloarch, the choir masterfully conveys the haunting beauty of the Haworth moors and the emotional weight of the siblings’ untimely deaths. Beginning with a haunting rendition of Charlotte Bronte’s poem ‘Speak of the North!’, the vocal troupe sets an incredibly high standard, which was consistently and enthusiastically met throughout the performance.
Each choral segment is followed by a piece of spoken word, articulated by co-curator and Elizabeth Gaskell expert, Sherry Ashworth. These segments include powerful lines from Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Gaskell’s The Life of Charlotte Brontë, perfectly pieced together with the choral music to create a gripping hour of storytelling genius.
Music performed by the talented troupe includes Sophie Nolan’s ‘Ira Vos Totos Consumet’, a piece highlighting Christian wrath and hypocrisy, John Ireland’s ‘The Hills’, a gentle, nature-focussed piece, and Tõnu Kõrvits’ rendition of Emily Brontë’s ‘The Night is Darkening Round Me’, described as “intense and atmospheric.”
Kantos Chamber Choir prides itself on incorporating contemporary music into their performances, and though the story they tell is over 150-years-old, each piece, contemporary or not, mirrors the narrative perfectly. Kantos’ rendition of Kate Bush’s iconic hit ‘Wuthering Heights’ is a prime example of this, featuring a striking soprano that is truly unique to this version. Despite its originality, the audience is secretly eager to sing along to the well-known hit. This is what Kantos does best – blending music and storytelling.
BRONTË ends with a magnificent all-woman choral rendition of Joan Szymko’s ‘Finding Her Here’, a profound exploration of what it means to be a woman in a world that consistently tells us we are “not good enough.” The haunting ostinato ‘I am becoming the woman I’ve wanted’ resonates deeply with the crowd, leaving the phrase echoing in their minds as the event draws to a close. Complemented by a passionate reading from Sherry Ashworth of Elizabeth Gaskell’s thoughts on womanhood, the piece serves as a stirring reminder of resilience and self-discovery, bringing the evening to a poignant and unforgettable close.
For more Kantos Chamber Choir performances visit www.kantoschamberchoir.com/whats-on.
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