Disclaimer:
This essay-with-videos is strictly an informal ongoing history, and, while I've attempted to make it as accurate as possible, some of my sources (or my interpretation of them) may be flawed or inaccurate. If you notice errors that I have made, or facts that were taken from inaccurate sources, please let me know at my email address <aahill@sonic.net>, so that I may make appropriate changes.
This piece of writing has not been authorized by, nor is it connected with, the Libera/St. Philip's organization, or with Invisible Hands Records. It is not to be posted on Facebook or any other Internet site, (including other Libera fansites) without permission of the author.
Ben Phillip towering in "O Sanctissima"
In the 2011 post-holiday lull, information and videos from Libera were fairly scarce, with one shining exception: on January 16th, 2011, this lovely video, filmed in the Arundel Cathedral in October 2010, debuted on an “all Arundel” program aired by Songs of Praise. Musically, this was almost certainly intended as a strong presentation of the newest Libera regular lineup, with “big people” Josh Madine, Tiarnán Branson, Jonathan Barrington, Liam Connery and the Leggett brothers tucked unobtrusively into the background, leaving no-longer-so-mini-Ben Phillip as lead voice towering over the rest of the youngsters. This was quite probably also the official video “swan song” of another great soprano soloist.
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It was by then especially noticeable that the traditional three-voice "lower section" had, possibly as a result of older boys wanting to continue their participation in Libera, expanded to include deeper baritone voices, adding considerably to the overall richness of sound.
Ralph Skan, Matthew Rangel-Alvarez, and Luke Collins in the recording studio |
As mentioned in Part One, Libera voices have been featured on a number of TV-show and movie soundtracks in the past. On February 14, 2011, the soundtrack composed by Mark McKenzie for a 3D animated movie The Great Miracle (El Gran Milagro), directed by Bruce Morris of Pocohontas and Hercules fame, was released. Libera is featured in four songs.
On February 22, an announcement appeared of a forthcoming mini-album of Libera songs, Miracle of Life, to be released 4/13/2011 by EMI Japan. It features the surprising number of Libera songs (listed below) that have been used as theme songs for or featured in various Japanese TV programs and films:
Poster for Madonna Verde
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In mid-March, great excitement ensued among Canadian fans when Libera announced that their next spring tour would be in Canada (a first for that country), between April 14th and April 24th.
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Jakob De Menezes-Wood |
Kavana Crossley |
Jude Collins |
A quirky occurrence at about this time was the inclusion of Libera favorite Josh Madine in an international poll (originating in 1996) to name the “Top Media Boys” of 2010. Surprisingly, with no publicity machine or worldwide media appearances behind him, Madine placed 9th in a field otherwise composed of young musicians, TV stars and actors like Justin Bieber, Jaden Smith and Greyson Chance. Since both nominations and voting were done by fans, this was a surprising revelation of the strength of the Libera fan presence worldwide.
http://www.aftipoll.co.uk/2010/ (Josh Madine places 9th in AFTI [alt.fan.teen.idols] 2010] Media Boy Poll ) |
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Unfazed by germs, Jude Collins tries out the Canadian national sport. |
"Moose," the Libera mascot
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Barney Lindsell, Canada 2011 |
"Moose" overlooks the Canadian Side of Niagara Falls
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Barbara Geraghty, mother of former Libera singers Daren and Steven Geraghty, keeps an eye on Liam Connery, Michael Vereycken and Sam Leggett c. 2006 |
In mid-May, it was announced on several websites that Freddie Ingles, Stefan Leadbeater, Kavana Crossley, James Mordaunt, Daniel Fontannaz, Barney Lindsell, Ralph Skan and Cassius O’Connell-White had taken part in a film called, of all things, Venus in Eros, directed by Takako IMAI, a British production (RME Films). The boys played (what else?) archangels, and the soundtrack included “Ave Virgo.” “Air,” “Touch the Sky,” “Panis Angelicus” and “How Shall I Sing That Majesty?”
Publicity shot for Venus in Eros
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Eoghan (pronounced "Owen") McCarthy |
In early June, it was announced that the prodigious Stefan Leadbeater had landed yet another plum part: that of Miles in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw, to be performed by the Vienna Opera Company at the Theater an der Wein from September 14th to 27th, 2011. This precluded him from participation in Libera's upcoming summer tour.
An added touch of excitement for this tour emerged when it was announced that Libera would be performing at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, MN, at a charity gala on Sunday, July 24, 2011 to benefit the Starkey Hearing Foundation,which provides hearing aids to children in disadvantaged countries.
Libera Business Manager Steve Philipp
Tour preparation was, however, not as simple behind the scenes as it may have seemed to the boys. According to a post-concert conversation between AngelVoices site manager Craig and Steve Phillip (father of singer Ben Phillip), this tour was originally headed for China. |
The Starkey Foundation Gala
In the photo below, Libera is singing backup for up-and-coming country singer John Rich on an original song written for the program, entitled “For the Kids” (Marlee Matlin is signing the words). |
Libera’s
first appearance was at the much-anticipated Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala,
which they opened with “Song of Life," with Ralph Skan
soloing.
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Grown-up Angel Voices Alex Baron, Simon Beston and others sang the original low-voiced section of "Te Lucis" in 1999
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Speech – Jude Collins and tiny newbie Ben Fairman (who balked at becoming Mini-Mini-Ben, and had thus by this time become “Nano-Ben”) played on Jude’s Canada-tour speech, which began "Hello, I’m Jude, and I’m new." When the former repeated this line, Nano-Ben waved and volunteered, "But I’m newer!", and, as Jude had on the Canada tour, spoke about joining the group and having only two months to learn all the songs, words and stage movements.
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Boys standing in mixed-voice groupings during concert |
Liam Connery connects with a fan at a meet-and-greet, while alumni staffer Callum Payne looks on.
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Behind the scenes at Moody Church |
James Mordaunt and James Threadgill on a Philippines poster |
This LiberaOfficial photo of the fresh-faced 14-and-under regulars of fall, 2011, appeared 9/19/11 along with an online article on the Philippine Entertainment Portal. (From back: Carlos Rodriguez Villegas, Kavana Crossley, Ralph Skan; Jakob de Menezes Wood, Matthew Jansen (MJ), Luke Collin; Matthew Rangel-Alvarez, Henry Barrington, Freddie Ingles Cassius O' Connell-White; Dylan Duffy, Jude Collins, Eoghan McCarthy, Barney Lindsell. By the end of 2011, ten of these boys had sung solos onstage, in videos, and/or on CD.
One of the newest solo singers on this CD was Eoghan McCarthy, who, like Ben Phillip in earlier years, comes off as both charming and a little cocky, and has a similar high, strong and sometimes-edgy voice. His solo sound is a marked contrast to the gentle purity of veteran Jakob Wood's; the versatile sweetness of Ralph Skan's; the cultivated precision of Stefan Leadbeater's; the poised clarity of Daniel Fontannaz's (at this point still soprano at age 15); the bright tones of Freddie Ingles and the slightly mellower sound of Luke Collins; the clarion descants of Matthew Rangel-Alvarez; the appealing little-boy tunefulness of James Mordaunt; the poignantly clear notes of Cassius O' Connell-White; and not one but two versions of Josh Madine's changing-and-changed voice, the latter perhaps the first tenor solo to appear on an all-Libera CD.
This seems to accord with another new trend: capitalizing on the changed voices of past soloists with arrangements that spotlight the lower voices. In 2007 the performing group of 19 boys featured three changed voices; by the end of 2011, there were eight in the roster of 28 touring singers. |
Libera boys try their feet at "Tinikling," the traditional Philippine bamboo dance, during a welcoming dinner in Manila.
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Jakub Niedermaier-Reed |
Jonathan Barrington and Stefan Leadbeater had returned for this tour, but fan favorites Jakob Wood, Sam Leggett, and Freddie Ingles were not present, nor was newbie Orlando Woscholski. James Mordaunt, prominently missing from the US roster, was also absent, although his voice is featured in several solos on the Christmas CD promoted on this tour. Mine and Sere Akpobome appear to have left the performing group permanently.
Shortly before the trip, a contest-and-CD promo video with a hastily-concocted look was released, giving a look at the adorable speaking (or at least cue-card reading) skills of two of the newest "mini-boys:"
The Libera kids were quickly put to work, with an October 22nd appearance on ASAP Rocks, a program that reached 20 million viewers. Though probably jet-lagged, the singers showed no sign of it in this spirited performance (though Cassius O' Connell-White seemed to be suffering from a touch of it in the announcements following the performance). The video features excellent close-ups of most of the group members.
http://youtu.be/TqqJ63-ZcFs (ASAP Rocks Live!/Carol of the Bells/Philippines Fall 2011/ Solo parts by Stefan Leadbeater/Ralph Skan/Cassius O’ Connell-White)
The first of the promised meet-and-greets (sponsored by the PolyEast branch of EMI Records) showed the more challenging side of touring in the Philippines; the event was held at The Block, a huge Manila shopping center. Only the first 300 people of those who stood in line to wait were allowed access to Libera members for autographs. Other hopefuls were relegated to floor seating to watch the signing, and still others were reduced to staring wistfully from balconies.
Overflow audience at Manila M&G at The Block (Photo by Yuki)
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Libera chaperon Barbara Geraghty reassures young Kuba Niedermaier-Reed at his first meet-and greet. Sammy Moriarty is in foreground. Note bodyguard controlling access on right (Photo by Hannah) Below: security guards snap to attention as the boys get ready to leave the backstage area.
While most of the veteran singers were their usual affable, waving, photo-posing selves, a number of the boys, no doubt still somewhat jet-lagged (at least in these videos by fan Eric Paulin), were uncharacteristically reluctant to engage with admirers, giving minimal responses and hunching over the table and signing as if doing homework. In the third video, the overexcited girls are singing "Happy Birthday" to Josh Madine (turning 17), as they wait for Libera to emerge from a holding area.
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For those interested, here’s a (slightly edited, with singers' last names provided) young first-timer’s delightful step-by-step-song-by-song view of the Manila concert by hannah.kirsten, who lives and blogs in the Philippines:
HANNAH: Let me just start off by saying this is my first Libera concert, and I loved every millisecond of it!
Part 1
1. Jubilate transitioning into Libera – Cassius O’Connell-White and Barney Lindsell started off with the “Jubilate” part, though I can't technically call it a solo. Then Eoghan McCarthy and Luke Collins moved to the front for their solos on "Libera." Loved the descants!
*Speech: Barney told us about the boys' age range and that [the song] "Libera" was written before he was born. Cassius told us it's the group's third visit to the Philippines.
2. Joy to the World - sounded even better than the album version.
3. Still, Still, Still - I wrote in my CD review that this is my favorite. The boys did not disappoint me! The younger boys were kneeling in a sort of semi-circle with Ralph Skas in the middle and with the big boys standing behind them. Ralph's solo almost made me cry! Loved the third verse showcasing the deeper voices. Magical!
4. Song of Life - so happy I got to hear this live! Ralph did the solo, backed by Daniel Fontannaz and Kavana Crossley. Ralph a little 'winded' from previous song, but still did a wonderful job.
*Speech: Cassius O' Connell-White introduced us to their mascot "Moose," and joked about not calling him a reindeer, as that would hurt his feelings! Michael [Ustanovych-Repa] told us about the effort that goes into preparing for a tour and how the big boys show the little ones the ropes.
5. Sanctus - Opened with a clarinet solo by Steven Geraghty. Stefan Leadbeater did the high descants (wow!) and Luke Collins sang the last word 'Sanctus.' PERFECT!
6. Salva Me - Matthew Rangel-Alvarez on the descants. Good, but...the audio could have been louder.
7. Stay with Me – Daniel Fontannaz soloed, backed by Cassius O’ Connell-White. For a boy of 16, I don't know how [Daniel] does it! Still very high notes, though definitely with signs of voice breaking. Also, please note that he was in the front row for most of the songs. Go Daniel!
Speech: Jude Collins introduced us to the musicians. He has a very high speaking voice. Hope he gets a solo soon!
8. Veni Emmanuel - Talk about theatrical! Josh Madine and Ralph Skan stood alone on left side of stage, with all other boys hooded and with heads bowed on the left. Spotlight on Josh and Ralph w/ dim light on hooded boys. Then Josh starts off with “Veni, Veni” in a LooooW voice. Surprised but also amazed at how beautiful and rich his voice sounded. Ralph did the harmony and the "gaude" parts. AWESOME! 15-minute intermission
Part 2
9. Carol of the Bells - Even better than the ASAP TV version...you could hear the vocals so clearly! Stefan Leadbeater and Ralph Skan did the descants as they did on ASAP, and Cassius O’ Connell-White the final 'ding-dong.' People [were] a little confused on when to clap because Cassius was a little late on the last 'ding-dong.' You have got to hear this live, people!
2. Gloria - perfect as expected!
*Speech: Barney Lindsell joked about how hard it is to keep their robes clean, especially when drinking orange juice. Then the classic part when he pulls Cassius's hood over his face and everyone laughs. Those two are too adorable!
3. The Fountain - Ralph Skan soloed, backed by Kavana Crossley. He sounded amazing! Low notes were beautiful and high notes perfect. Perfect!
4. Eternal Light - So happy this was included in the set list! Solo by Stefan, backed by Ralph and Daniel. Even better than CD version. Bravo, Stefan!!
5. Sing the Story - Very nice solo by Luke Collins! Cue the stage lights shining like stars in the evening sky every time they sang "shining like silver the stars in the sky."
*Speech: Liam Connery gave the voice-change speech and told us he's been with the group since age 8, and is now 15 (16 in a month!), cue: audience applause and cheers. He also told us to listen for the low notes of “Ave Verum" towards the end of the song.
6. Ave Verum - Solo by Carlos Rodriguez Villegas backed by MJ (Matthew Jansen) and Barney Lindsell. Pleasantly surprised by Carlos' voice! Matt Rangel-Alvarez did the descants. For the last verse, the older boys came to the front and changed to V formation with Josh Madine in the center. Loved the last verse!
7. In Dulci Jubilo - at this point, poor [tiny newbie] Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey had eyes closed most of the time and looked like he was about to fall asleep right there. Noticed yawns from Matt Madine and Thomas Delgado-Little. Poor newbies! (this was around 10 pm). Ralph Skan did the descants for this song.
8. Glory to Thee - Solo by Eoghan McCarthy, pitch-perfect, though a bit hesitant at the start. Can't wait until Eoghan's voice matures some more. Love the tone/quality of his voice, perfect for classic treble pieces.
*Speech: Nano Ben [Fairman] came forward and told us he's new and had about 2 months to learn all the songs. Then he said this was the end of their concert and said "Maraming salamat po, mahal namin ang Pilipinas" (Thank you so much, we love the Philippines!). Awwww...!
9. How Shall I Sing That Majesty - perfect end to a perfect concert. Stefan Leadbeater wowed me with his solo on the first verse, and Eoghan McCarthy, too, with his solo on the second verse. Almost in tears!
Encore: White Christmas - Solo by Stefan. The Beverly Hills first verse was omitted, and I liked this version much better. You could tell everyone loved it by the thunderous applause at the end. Himig ng Pasko - Immediately recognized the song when they started humming, and it got instant applause just like Bayan Ko [in 2009 concerts]. Ralph Skan sounded wonderful on the solo parts, I hardly noticed his accent! It was SOOO GOOD!! Then, surprise at the end, [little newbie] Isaac London sang "And a merry Christmas to you!" What a darling, sweet voice! This is now my favorite.
http://youtu.be/ceDtUHTTJ58 (Himig Ng Pasko/Philippine tour 10/11/solos by Ralph Skan and Isaac London/PICC Manila)
It's like a gift from heaven
The sound of Christmas is all over
There's no sadness
The joy is perfect
The blowing wind is cold
Every feeling is so joyful
The beating of the heart in the chest
Is like a gift from heaven
The sound of Christmas is all over
There's no sadness
The joy is perfect
The inclusion of "Himig Ng Pasko," a traditional holiday song of the Philippines, as with last season's "Bayan Ko," was considered newsworthy, and received warm applause and press coverage: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/10/26/11/goosebumps-over-libera’s-‘himig-ng-pasko’ (ABS-CBN Online News/10
Two concerts were scheduled in Cebu; the boys were flown there by private jet, and received a pull-out-the-stops welcome to their hotel that appeared to overwhelm the sleepy lads, who managed, however, to get into the spirit.
(Optional) http://youtu.be/PnKj_SB4axM (2011 Philippines/Cebu Welcome)
Meet-and-greets in Cebu were a jolly and riotous affair, and the brief noisy home videos below are notable for conveying the feel of being there, the love of the fans, and the level of security required to keep the crowds from rushing up and hugging the boys.
http://youtu.be/nCwxyh3K3UE (2011 Cebu M&G/Pt1)
http://youtu.be/K5E1NDWYRHs (2011 Cebu M&G/Pt. 3)
http://youtu.be/le9sQs_X9bc (2011 Cebu M&G/Pt. 4)
Concerts were a sellout success, and the boys flew home on October 30th. As usual, they produced a couple of chatty blogs detailing the experience from the inside.
http://www.libera.org.uk/blog/philiblog (10/28/11/ Libera Blog from Philippines #1)
http://www.libera.org.uk/blog/philiblog_ii (10/29/11/ Libera Blog from Philippines #2) CHRISTMAS SEASON IN ENGLAND: A Calendar
11/05: After arriving back in England from their Philippines tour on 10/30, ten of the 28 Libera boys (Stefan Leadbeater, Barney Lindsell, Cassius O' Connell-White, Matthew Rangel-Alvarez, Eoghan McCarthy, Ralph Skan, Daniel Fontannaz, Matthew Jansen, Luke Collins and Kavana Crossley) made a live appearance-with-interviews on the November 5th edition of the QVC TV show. This fulfilled the double purpose of promoting both the Christmas CD and the group's upcoming 11/25 concert at St George's Cathedral in London. It was notable that Robert Prizeman chose the most poised, personable, and skilled of his current crop of treble singers for this live show, and (in an echo of the Christmas Cooks TV appearances in the mid-2000s) fascinating how ten boys out of 28 managed to convey the spirit and virtuosity of Libera.
http://youtu.be/ol-MfUbk7KA (11/05/11/ QVC UK/Libera appearance/Joy to the world/Carol of the Bells/White Christmas/solos by stefan Leadbeater, Ralph Skan, and Cassius O' Connell-White)
http://youtu.be/TkYj8d7VSo8 (11/05/11/ QVC UK/interviews with Ralph Skan, Kavana Crossley, Cassius O' Connell-White)
On November 7th, the Libera Organization announced the next concert tour in Japan, with appearances already scheduled in Bunkamura on April 14th and 15th.
On November 9th, 2011 several Japanese fans posted this lovely never-before-seen 2010 video:
ttp://youtu.be/yZWSPOaC5Cg (Alternate version of “Eternal Light” [2010] from 2011 Winter Songs CD [aka Christmas Album] released only in Japan: solo/second part by Stephan Leadbeater and Ralph Skan)
Several months later, a marvelous "director's cut" of the "Eternal Light" video appeared. This video was filmed by Japanese Director Tomoyuki Katoh in early September 2010 in the Chiswick House Gardens and on Primrose Hill outside of London. In 2013, Director Kato replied to an article by Japanese fan Yuki on her Dear Libera site:
"I've been a Libera fan for a long time. Their great music has
helped me so many times. And luckily I got the opportunity to work with Libera.
"'Eternal Light' was composed by Mr.Senju, and I wrote the original
Japanese lyrics, then a songwriter from New York wrote the English lyrics of
it. 'Eternal Light' was completed by the unite - Tokyo, New York and London.
"Therefore, I was very passionate for directing this. Libera's music
videos in the past were sometimes slightly different from my image for Libera.
So I made this video having a image as one of fans, and from the lyric writer's
point of view, and with wish that people will love Libera by watching it.
"We were filming [on Primrose Hill] in early morning. Some local
people jogging around there stopped to hear and were saying "Wonderful
song!"
"We made a storyboard, and searched places matching with that, then
decided the locations. It was also an important point to be able to express the
world of the lyrics - "this eternal light will find you to shine its
guiding light in you...". We looked for a place where we can look the city
(London) down, and Primrose Hill was perfect for that. Chiswick House &
Gardens was chosen by such the way as well.
"Thank you very much indeed. Let's keep on supporting Libera
together!"—Tomoyuki Kato
http://youtu.be/umT-G6v5-EM (Eternal
Light/Director’s Cut by Tomoyuki Kato/ 2010/ solo & second part by Stefan Leadbeater and
Ralph Skan)
As is customary with each new major Libera CD release, an album preview/promo video appeared in mid-November. This was a well-crafted look at stage performances (briefly), backstage shenanigans, and a bit of an intro to Libera. The spokespersons, as usual, were from the younger contingent, with Kavana Crossley and Ralph Skan at 13 and 14, the oldest of them (one remembers when 14-year-olds were the "big people" of the group, whose oldest performing member is now 17). Others included the ever-loquacious Cassius O'Connell-White and Barney Lindsell, a slightly hesitant Jude Collins, eight-year-old charmers Michael Ustynovych-Repa and Ben Fairman, and high treble Matthew Rangel-Alvarez (singer of the most challenging high solo descants onstage, but managing—as usual—not to say a word here).
http://youtu.be/EDDiG-02Ri0 (Christmas
Album promo, with Kavana Crossley, Cassius O’ Connell-White, Michael Ustynovych-Repa, and “Nano-Ben” Fairman)
Waiting to go onstage; big boys Ben Phillip, Liam Connery, Jonathan Barrington, Ralph Skan, Kavana Crossley, and Barney Lindsell help eight-year-old Michael Ustynovych-Repa with his smiling skills. On November 15th, the Libera Christmas Album debuted at #15 in the US on the Billboard Classical Music charts. On the 16th, a well-written article and review of the Christmas Album appeared on the Amzine Online music Magazine. An informative quote: Previous best-selling albums from the three-time Classical BRIT-nominated Libera include Peace, Angel Voices, Free, Visions, and New Dawn. Peace, released in 2010, reached #1 in the UK, Japanese and Philippine classical charts; in the United States, the release went to #2. Libera’s video for "Going Home," from their PBS special, has had over 1.5 million hits on You Tube. Libera is currently the best-selling group of its kind, reflecting the surge of interest in choirs as a result of television shows such as Last Choir Standing and Glee.
http://amzine.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/libera-christmas-album/ (Online music magazine, Part of Access Music UK/11/16/11)
If there was one Libera piece that got thoroughly overexposed in the 2011 holiday season, it was "Carol of the Bells." Obviously not expecting the ASAP and QVC-TV appearances, the Libera organization both used it in their preview video (above) and on November 23rd released an authorized video version with about 18 boys performing and refreshingly less showbiz razzmatazz.
http://youtu.be/YVGKfDoANRA (Carol of the Bells LiberaOfficial video version/2011/solos by Stefan Leadbeater, Ralph Skan, Cassius O’ Connell-White)
On November 25th, the long-awaited (and sold-out) St. George's Christmas Concert took place. The 34 boys participating included (with additions and subtractions) five newbies singing on several of the numbers: Misha Lieven, Oscar McFall, Bertie Smart, Michael Menezes, and Lucas Wood. 1. Henry Barrington
2. Jonathan Barrington
3. Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey
4. Tiarnan Branson
5. Jude Collins
6. Luke Collins
7. Liam Connery
8. Kavana Crossley
9. Thomas Delgado-Little
10. Jakob De Menezes-Wood
11. Dylan Duffy
12. Benjamin Fairman
13. Daniel Fontannaz
14. Matthew Jansen
15. Stefan Leadbeater
16. Alexander Leggett
17. *Misha Lieven
18. Barnaby Lindsell
19. Isaac London
20. Joshua Madine
21. Matthew Madine
22. Eoghan McCarthy
23. *Oscar McFall
24. *Michael Menezes
25. Samuel Moriarty
26. Kuba Niedermaier-Reed
27. Cassius O'Connell-White
28. Benedict Philipp
29. Matthew Rangel-Alvares
30. Carlos Rodriguez
31. Ralph Skan
32. *Bertie Smart
33. Michael Ustynovych-Repa
34. *Lucas Wood
Sam Leggett and James Mordaunt attended the performance, but sat in the audience. Their status as members of the group was not revealed at this concert. From Ms.Takako Imai, film director (and Japanese translator for Libera), it was learned that Freddie Ingles' family had moved away from London, thus ending his Libera career. There was no sign of young Orlando Woscholski, who participated in the Philippines tour, nor of Mine or Sere Akpobome. Jakob de Menezes-Wood was noted as singing with the lowvoices, his high soprano apparently a thing of the past. As usual, Robert Prizeman used an at-home event as a vehicle for immersing new boys in public performance and introducing them to the Libera audience.
The song list was the same as for the Philippines concert, with several changes in personnel and speeches, and with the addition of the new boys for certain numbers.
1. Jubilate into Libera - solos: Cassius O' Connell-White, Barney (now Barnaby in the program notes) Lindsell, Eoghan McCarthy and Luke Collins Speech: Barney Lindsell & Cassius O' Connell-White on Josh Madine & Jonathan Barrington being
the oldest in the group.
2. Joy to the World
3. Still, Still, Still - solo: Ralph Skan
4. Song of Life - solo: Ralph Skan
Speech: Cassius O' Connell-White & Michael Ustynovych-Repa introducing the group's mascot, Moose
5. Sanctus
6. Salva Me - high "salvas" by Matthew Rangel-Alvarez
7. Stay With me - Daniel Fontannaz & Cassius O' Connell-White, descant by Matthew Rangel-Alvarez
Speech: Jude Collins introducing musicians
8. Veni Emmanuel - solos: Josh Madine & Ralph Skan
9. Exultate - solo: Stefan Leadbeater
Interval
10. Carol of the Bells
11. Gloria in Excelsis
Speech: Barney Lindsell with Cassius O' Connell-White on keeping robes clean, and the perils of
big hoods. Usual Cassius comedy hood routine.
12. The Fountain - solo: Ralph Skan
13. Eternal Light - solo: Stefan Leadbeater
14. Sing the Story - solo: Luke Collins
Speech: Liam Connery on changing voices, and the fact that he's been with Libera since age eight.
15. Ave Verum - solo Carlos Rodriguez Villegas
16. In Dulci Jubilo
17. Glory to Thee - solo Eoghan McCarthy
Speech: Ben Fairman on being new and how he got his "Nano Ben" nickname
18. How Shall I Sing That Majesty - solo: Stefan Leadbeater & Eoghan McCarthy
Encore: White Christmas - solo: Stefan Leadbeater Libera Footnote: Johan, a visiting fan from the Netherlands, attended both the St. George's concert and the St Philip's Christmas Fair on November 26th. He reported that Alex and Sam Leggett, Josh Madine, Liam Connery, Tiarnán Branson, Jonathan Barrington, Sammy Moriarty, and Daniel Fontannaz, dressed in White Libera robes performed a number of tenor-harmony selections with Robert Prizeman's keyboard accompaniment. Johan was amazed by the fact that Fontannaz, who had performed the high-treble solo in "Stay With Me" at St. George's the previous evening, had, seemingly effortlessly, switched to tenor for the Christmas-fair performance. The last Libera singer known for this facility was James Vereycken, who sang both treble and bass lines between 2002-2007.
The next holiday offering from Libera was another video, probably shot on the same day as the "Carol of the Bells," with the same camera technique and personnel. Here "O Holy Night" is presented almost calmly, and beautifully free of the usual bombast and vocal pyrotechnics
http://youtu.be/BTQKU6uUBjU (O Holy Night/LiberaOfficial/2011/Solo/duet by Ralph Skan and Stefan Leadbeater
In hilarious contrast, five of the group's most impish spokesboys were recruited to introduce songs on Bliss-TV's Christmas Carol Takeover. The boys started out trying to play it trés cool, but were soon having way too much fun snarking, mugging and ad-libbing between cue-card readings, giving a rare look at what life with Libera must be like offstage; the boys here were obviously good friends who loved playing off of each other. A surprise addition to the group was elfin eight-year-old Isaac London (already a two-tour veteran), who demonstrated both a charming assertiveness and a great sense of comic timing. An interesting note was the impromptu the discussion by the eight-to-13-year-olds as to who was the greatest fan of Glee, an American musical TV series with marvelous singing and dancing that also deals with issues such as teen pregnancy, homosexuality, loss of a parent, adoption, bullying and adult foibles with extreme frankness.
http://youtu.be/hb4fi-HrTRo (Libera’s Christmas Carol Takeover on Bliss TV Intros/Isaac London, Cassius O’ Connell White, Kavana Crossley, Michael Ustynovych-Repa, Jude Collins)
On December 1st, it was announced that the Libera Christmas Album CD had gone to #2 on the US Billboard Classical Charts.
On December 2nd, LiberaFan4ever (aka Michael) posted a short, non-musical pre-and-post-concert video, which is mainly interesting for 1) the marvelous remix of the 2009 "Gaudete" by Steven Geraghty, and 2) the looks of obvious pride and affection on the faces of many of the boys as Robert Prizeman takes the stage post-concert.
http://youtu.be/SUqYS2UB_W4 (Libera 11/25/11 St George’s concert 2011/pre- and-post-concert scenes/ Steven Geraghty remix of “Gaudete”)
On December 5th, An exquisite two-minute version of "Still, Still, Still" (minus Ralph Skan's CD solo), part of a 12/4 Songs of Praise special, was posted by OfficialLibera on YouTube. It was shot at All Saints' Church, Cheltenham, with 23 boys participating.
http://youtu.be/nL3OjTU_C7M (“Still, Still, Still”/LiberaOfficial version/Songs of Praise/12/04/11) This video is notable for combining the oldest boys with the youngest, the lowest voices with the highest, and letting the low voices carry the melody line.
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For Part One (introduction to Libera and to the Timeline, extensive overview & 1981-2007), please go to: http://liberatimeline.blogspot.com/