On March 26, 2006, Rackham Symphony Choir performed Richard Einhorn’s Voices of Light at the historic Redford Theatre. The moving score is inspired by and performed with a simultaneous projection of Carl Dreyer's 1928 silent film masterpiece ”The Passion of Joan of Arc."
Read press release.
Preview the concert program (1 MB PDF).
Read the Detroit Free Press review.

The Music
Richard Einhorn’s Voices of Light was written in 1996 as a choral and orchestral accompaniment for Carl Dreyer’s 1928 silent film masterpiece, “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” Voices of Light has been praised as “lush, “brilliantly effective,” and “moving” by the New York Times.   Learn more about Richard Einhorn and Voices of Light.

The Film
Carl Th. Dreyer’s “The Passion of Joan of Arc” is listed is on of the “10 Best Films of All Time” and has influenced many contemporary directors. The silent film was released in 1928 and at the time was the most expensive film ever made.  All original prints of the film were destroyed in a warehouse fire shortly following the premiere and the film was thought to be lost for over 50 years.  Miraculously, in 1981 a perfectly preserved copy of the film was found in closet in a Norwegian mental hospital. The print has been faithfully restored and is of superb quality. The film is known for its extensive use of close-up shots as Dreyer felt that the human face was a “window to the soul.”  Dreyer’s extensive editing predated the rapid-cutting style of today’s films and the film holds up surprisingly well to current contemporary films. Learn more about the film in a review by Gary Morris.

The Woman
Joan of Arc, played in the film by Maria Falconetti, is a historical figure who as a peasant girl at age 17 led the armies of France to defeat the English and reclaim the throne of France.  Joan was captured, imprisoned and executed for heresy at age 19.  In 1920, Joan was canonized a saint by the Catholic Church and is the Patron Saint of France.  Learn more about Joan of Arc.

The Venue
Voices of Light will be performed at the historic Redford Theatre. The Redford Theatre was built in 1928 - the same year Carl Dreyer completed "The Passion of Joan of Arc" - and the Redford has been restored by to its original grandeur by the 200 volunteer members of the Motor City Theatre Organ Society. The theatre seats over 1,600. It offers a unique reflection on Detroit's architectural legacy and is a rare example of one of the city's last remaining "neighborhood theatres." Learn more about the Redford Theatre.

About "Voices of Light"
This moving display of chorus, orchestra and film is, in Richard Einhorn’s words a “celebration of female spirituality and heroism.” Rackham Symphony Choir is performing a reprise of Voices of Light after a sold-out, critically acclaimed production in 2000.

Voices of Light is a meditation on the life and personality of Joan of Arc, an illiterate young woman who led an army, was burned at the stake, and long after her untimely death, became a saint. The divine voices that Joan heard in her head, guided her heroic path in life. They are evoked in Einhorn’s Voices of Light.

The libretto is a montage of ancient writings, assembled from female medieval writers, and varies in language from Latin to French and Italian. The work is scored for soloists, chorus, and orchestra. The film is presented with English subtitles.

Educational opportunities abound with this work. Students may choose to study and discuss many aspects of this story: French history and culture, saints’ role in religion and society, filmmaking techniques or the musical score itself.

Note: While the film is not rated, it contains some intense images that may not be suitable for children. Please contact us if you have any questions.