Madeleine Choir School students 'fludde' Cathedral

SALT LAKE CITY — As lions and leopards leaping with the clanging of all manner of ad hoc instruments, the entire student body of the Madeleine Choir School filled the Cathedral of the Madeleine May 19-21 with the sounds of English composer Benjamin Britten’s "Noye’s Fludde."

Part of the annual Madeleine Festival of the Arts and Humanities, Britten’s charming and humorous setting of the 16th century miracle play that first appeared in Chester drew upon the resources of the students and other groups in the Salt Lake City community, including special assistance from Tina Misaka of the Children’s Dance Theatre and Chip Dance from the Utah Symphony and Opera.

From costumes to choreography, the volume of work invested in the program was immense. Intended for amateur musicians, Britten’s music came to life with the care and dedication of the choristers, the soloists, and, from time to time, the participation of the audience in hymns Britten scored into the music.

"When all is said and done, the story of the Fludde greatly affirms that we are a people of hope in the face of life’s challenges and difficulties," wrote School Director Gregory Glenn in the school’s May newsletter. "This is not the business of the ‘pollyanna’ or naïve optimism, but a sober acknowledgment of the presence of evil in the midst of so much that is good."