I Cantori di Carmel brings free concert ‘Songs of Destiny’ to South Monterey County

SOUTH MONTEREY COUNTY — An evening of emotional power and musical richness awaits South Monterey County residents as I Cantori di Carmel presents “Songs of Destiny,” a free community concert on Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Robert Stanton Theater in King City.

Presented with a full symphonic orchestra and chorus, this special performance aims to offer something deeper than entertainment.

“We want everyone to feel welcome and inspired by what music can offer,” said Music Director Daniel Henriks. “Even if classical music is new to you, you might be surprised by how much it speaks to your own experience.”

The concert program explores universal themes, such as fate, memory, hope and renewal, through a carefully curated selection of works. Audiences will hear Brahms’ “Nänie” and “Schicksalslied,” Debussy’s rarely performed “Printemps” in its original choral form, Ravel’s “Les Bayadères” and “L’Aurore,” and Vaughan Williams’ “Toward the Unknown Region.”

Debussy’s “Printemps,” originally scored for chorus and orchestra, is a particular highlight. I Cantori di Carmel will revive the composer’s original vision, adding a lush choral layer that has rarely been heard in California.

“This performance revives Debussy’s original vision for ‘Printemps’ (‘Spring’), tragically lost in a fire,” the group noted, “adding a lush choral texture that enhances its sense of awakening and transformation.”

Ravel’s two works offer a study in contrast — “Les Bayadères” evokes a mysterious dreamlike realm, while “L’Aurore” captures the radiant emergence of dawn. Brahms’ “Nänie” meditates on loss and the solace found in beauty, while “Schicksalslied” (“Song of Destiny”) dramatizes the contrast between divine serenity and human struggle.

The program concludes with Vaughan Williams’ “Toward the Unknown Region,” a setting of Walt Whitman’s poetry that celebrates courage and the journey into the unknown. It is described as “a bold journey into the unknown, filled with hope, adventure, and a fearless embrace of what lies ahead.”

Admission to the King City performance is free, but attendees are encouraged to reserve their seats in advance at icantori.org. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performance runs approximately 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.

Following the King City event, “Songs of Destiny” will also be performed at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz on Sunday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m., and at the Sunset Center in Carmel on Tuesday, May 6, and Wednesday, May 7, both at 7:30 p.m. For tickets to these concerts, visit I Cantori di Carmel’s website icantori.org.

With these concerts, I Cantori di Carmel continues its mission to bring world-class choral music to diverse communities — inviting all to reflect, feel and connect through the shared power of music.