Kingstonist: Isabel Voices present Flight 752: Elegies

by Cris Vilela, published by the Kingstonist on March 11, 2024. To see the original article click here.

Under the direction of Artistic Director, Darrell Christie, The Isabel Voices will perform their upcoming concert, Flight 752: Elegies, featuring acclaimed santur player, Sadaf Amini and celebrated mezzo-soprano, Colleen Renihan.

“On January 8, 2020, the Iranian military shot down Ukrainian Air Flight 752, resulting in the loss of 176 passengers and crew, including 57 Canadian citizens and 29 Canadian residents,” recounts composer, John Burge. The reverberations of this tragedy were felt deeply, including within our own community of Kingston, Ontario, where a doctoral Engineering student from Queen’s University was among those who perished.

Burge and Amini, were in the midst of preparing a composition titled “Shiraz” for santur and string quartet when news of the tragedy broke. Though the premiere was postponed due to the pandemic, Burge redirected his creative energy to compose Flight 752: Elegies, a 7-movement work lasting approximately 35 minutes.

“I could have been one of those passengers, a member of their families, or a relative,” reflects Amini. “Like them, I traveled abroad in search of better opportunities… the least I can do is express my sympathy and offer my condolences for the immense suffering that those people and their loved ones endured, by playing the mesmerizing piece ‘Flight 752: Elegies’ composed by John Burge.”

“The unifying element of this composition is a consoling choral sung by the choir in odd-numbered movement,” explained Burge. "In each refrain, the choir’s wordless melody is accompanied by diminishing contributions from the santur, symbolizing loss in real-time.”

Indeed, “One of the things that unites us all is the (eventual, inevitable) experience of loss,” reflects Colleen Renihan. “John Burge’s stunning Elegies, and Matthew Emery’s Three Songs capture tragedy and loss so poignantly - even beautifully. I love singing these pieces because, through their incredible music, they not only bring us, but hold us together in our shared experience of loss.”

“We are honoured to present Flight 752: Elegies as a tribute to those who lost their lives in this heartbreaking tragedy,” says Christie. “Through music, we hope to offer solace and remembrance to our community.”