World Premiere by Ted Whalen: The Listeners, a poem by Walter de la Mare, is a haunting and atmospheric poem that explores themes of loneliness, isolation, and the nature of reality. Compared to de la Mare's other works, The Listeners is a more restrained and subtle poem. It explores similar themes of loneliness and isolation, but it does so in a more understated and atmospheric way. The poem's setting and language are carefully crafted to create a sense of mystery and wonder. In the poem, the speaker, a solitary traveler, knocks on the door of an old house, but no one answers. He persists, but the only response he receives is from a host of "phantom listeners" who stand in the moonlight, listening to his voice but remaining silent and still.

Baritone Soloist

Performed with: Wellesley Choral Society