Stars (Ēriks Ešenvalds)

Conducted by Nelson Kwei
Performed by The NUSChoir with The Graduate Singers
Varsity Voices 2015: Stars
Esplanade Concert Hall

[another_aaron]

the lights in the choir is such an amazing touch

[uwidjen]

My middle school choir sang this a couple years back among other songs. And this song was the one that helped the judges decide that we won. It is such a beautiful song.

[TheNUSChoir]

Thank you all for your wonderful comments!

[meganekk]

recently had the honor of performing this piece at the GA All-State sight-reading chorus... one of the most magnificent experiences in my life. felt like a definitive moment, like it made me into the person i will become. its so ethereal and hearing it again brings a bittersweet smile to my face. the harmonies, the singing glasses (or in our case, chimes), and lyrics all evoke such a sense of otherworldly longing, yearning for a _heaven full of stars_, knowing you will never reach them, realizing how innately blessed you are to exist in a world that allows you the privilege of bearing witness to _so much majesty_

[bethanylutty]

This is what the gates of heaven sound like. I'm at peace.

[soccermom]

my high school choir is singing this next week. It's so beautiful it makes me want to cry

[bridgitmcgee]

Sang this as a senior in my last holiday concert and am sobbing I miss it all so much

[savagestand]

I sung this song in my high school choir. It gives me tear dropping nostalgia which makes me feel amazing! Glad I did this and shoutout to Erik for creating such a beautiful masterpiece!

[epsile]

We listened to this in choir today, and I couldn't help but feel such a beautiful connection with the harmonies. They sound so beautifully dissonant, and they make me feel like there's something else that's beyond those notes. Might be the overtones talking, but maybe even past that. Something beyond just regular harmonies.
Thank you. :)

[kay]

I'm doing a project over a song that I know nothing about, and I chose this one at random not knowing what it was or how it sounded. After listening...this is probably one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Not to mention how amazing the choir sounded. Yes, this song was chorally created by Esenvalds, but the poem of words sung was written by a women named Sara Teasdale. I think everyone should know about her and what she accomplished

[carolinehesford]

We are using this in March Madness right now and it really makes me miss my choir!!

[MsPiparinsh]

The song is wonderful and sang by many professional choirs. I have never seen a better performance of Stars than that on which comes from Ešenvalds home country Latvia, performed by LATVIA STATE CHOIR. It is also here on youtube. But this young choir stands out by wonderful visual performance. The best visual here on youtube so far. My comment to the angry critics is that very often some video taken from a balcony, one side can never be enough to judge a performance of the choir. I am convinced that they did sound wonderful in the concert hall.

[autumnsellars]

Just got to hear this in person at #CedarvilleUniversity by the women’s choir. Gave me the chills!!!
There’s a scene in The Chronicles of Narnia, in The Magician’s Nephew, where the stars are singing. I imagine their song was like this one.

[janlouhjan]

Wonderful conducting! All the choir members can totally trust themselves to his leading!

[briangruenewald]

Oh dear Lord! It seems like every time I get on YouTube I come across a choir piece, and each one is better than the last.
This is amazing!!! I could very well cry... gimme time to get to know this piece and become one with it, and I'll be a puddle of emotional wetness for sure! Very well done, NUSChoir <3

[parkerbettinson]

Just heard this song for the first time today in my high school choir, we'll be performing it in February and March for a choral competition... SO EXCITED.

[trapset]

Just heard this wonderful piece of music on BBC Radio 3 driving along misty, rain soaked country roads in Cornwall. Lots of chaos and upheaval in life at the moment but this seemed to make the world at ease. Beautiful

[mollyrocksinmygreentea]

i’m singing this soon as an alto 2 😳 oh boy

[julianreinhart]

I sang this right before my freshman year of high school as a Bass 2 and it remains the most jaw-droppingly stunning song I have ever heard

[caelep]

ahhh i'm obsessed i'm currently singing this in my choir and love it so much