The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale is excited to present the world premiere of Cipher a new work by Daniel Bernard Roumain and lyricist Marc Bamuthi Joseph. Roumain, PBCC Artistic Director Jeffrey R. Smith, members of the choir and choir alumnus Ukee Washington met with several boys who are currently living at St. Gabriel’s Hall, a boarding school for juvenile delinquents. The boys told stories about growing up in Philadelphia, how they came to St. Gabriel’s, their new life at the boarding school and their dreams and aspirations for the future. Using material and quotes from that session, Roumain and Joseph have created a pocket-opera that promises to be a riveting experience for the audience.
The choir will also perform Benjamin Britten’s The Golden Vanity, a short one-act opera written in 1966 for boys choir and piano. The balance of the program consists of well-loved songs we learned as children.