Choirs

Conductor and composer Eugeen Liven d’Abelardo passed away in Laren, the Netherlands on 18 August at the age of 75. Along with his impressive musical career, he was also known to be an enjoyer of life.

On 15 and 16 February, the Auroville Choir, conducted by Nuria, presented songs composed by Ola Gjeilo, Elaine Hagenberg, James Eakin, Eric Whitacre, Jacob Narverud, Don Macdonald, Christopher Tin and Jake Runestad.

The 15th August is always a special day in Auroville, but this 15th was particularly so as it marked the 150th anniversary of Sri Aurobindo’s birth and 75 years of India’s independence.

When Antoine put together a group of female singers in Auroville and began rehearsing two years ago, his initial goal was to “share beauty and emotion” through music.

On two successive evenings in March the combined Auroville adult and youth choirs – 78 singers in all – accompanied by an instrumental ensemble presented a collection of songs from The Peacemakers at the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium in Bharat Nivas.

With over 210 participating Aurovilians, the Auroville Singing Festival 2014 was doubtless the year’s largest cultural event. Spread over two evenings in October, with Bharat Nivas auditorium bursting at its seams, more than 36 groups and soloists showed their talents.