With PopCappella, Chor Leoni reinterprets everything from the B-52s to the Proclaimers, March 6 and 7

Harmonizing through the decades, Vancouver choir is set to premiere six new arrangements

Members of Chor Leoni. Photo by Wayne Hoecherl

Chor Leoni presents PopCappella at St. Andrew’s–Wesley United Church on March 6 at 7:30 pm and March 7 at 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm

AMID ALL THE radio-friendly fare that Chor Leoni reinterprets for a 65-voice choir this week, we have to admit there’s one we’re especially looking forward to.

At its PopCappella night, the ensemble is ready to premiere a new, fully harmonized arrangement by Keith Sinclair of the B-52s’s classic “Roam”, the beat-bopping hit from its 1989 Cosmic Thing album. We’re not quite sure what that’s going to sound like without the signature, soaring vocals of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, but we can’t wait to find out.

The program includes the world premiere of six arrangements in all, with bassist Laurence Mollerup, multi-percussionist Liam MacDonald, pianist Ken Cormier, and guitarist Sinclair backing up the vocal power.

With music director Erick Lichte on the podium, the choir will hop between eras, moving from the Beach Boys’ 1966 hit “God Only Knows” to Nick Drake’s 1970 retro-romantic “Northern Sky” to the Proclaimers’ Celtic pop-rock anthem “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” all the way up to new-millennium favourites like Adele’s 2010 scorcher Rolling in the Deep.

Given the number of decades the singers will cover, you’ll have to choose your favourite era—meaning B-52 fans will have to pull out their minidresses and supersized beehive wigs.

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Janet Smith

Janet Smith is founding partner and editorial director of Stir. She is a Webster Award–winning arts journalist who has spent more than three decades immersed in Vancouver’s performing arts, film, and gallery scenes. She sits on the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circle.

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