Libera on Japan TV

While 9 Libera boys were signing autographs and meeting fans at 2 record stores yesterday, 13 Libera boys appeared on a TV show in Osaka. They sang "Angel" with Isaac singing the solo as on the CD. The interviewer then spoke to Taichi in Japanese. I can't understand a word of it, but it was so cute because Taichi is cute. :D



This is the video of it. It is a little blurry from recording the actual TV. Thank you to tomobarbie for posting it!

New "Libera In America" DVD Premiering on US PBS Stations

UPDATED: January 27 & February 3, 15, & 25, 2015 to add more stations

Great news! There are several areas of the US that will get to see Libera's "Angels Sing - Libera In America" DVD soon! So far, 22 areas will see it before the DVD is released for sale. To buy the DVD or CD, click here. Here's which PBS TV stations have posted that they are showing it so far -

Alaska
     Anchorage KAKM                March 8, 4:00 p.m.
                                                      March 13, 8:30 p.m.

     Bethel KYUK                        March 8, 4:00 p.m.
                                                      March 13, 8:30 p.m.

     Juneau KTTO                        March 8, 4:00 p.m.
                                                      March 13, 8:30 p.m.

     Kodiak KMXT                      March 8, 4:00 p.m.
                                                      March 13, 8:30 p.m. 

Arizona
     Tuscon AZPM                       February 28, 10:30 a.m.
                                                      March 4, 2:30 p.m.
                                                      March 8, 4:30 p.m.

California
     Sacramento KVIE                  March 7, 10:00 a.m.
                                                      March 8, 6:30 a.m.

     San Bernadino KVCR         March 3, 8:30 p.m. (24.1)
                                                     March 4, 2:30 a.m. (24.1)
                                                     March 5, 9:30 p.m. (24.3)
                                                     March 6, 1:00 a.m. (24.1)
                                                     March 7, 12:30 a.m. (24.3)
                                                     March 8, 6:30 p.m. (24.3)
                                                     March 9, 3:30 a.m. (24.3)
                                                     March 11, 12:30 a.m. (24.3)
                                                     March 12, 9:00 p.m. (24.1)
                                                     March 12, 11:30 p.m. (24.3)
                                                     March 14, 12:30 a.m. (24.1)


     San Diego KPBS                  March 7, 5:00 a.m.
                                                     March 13, 10:30 p.m.
                                                     March 14, 5:30 a.m.
                                                     March 15, 11:00 a.m.

     San Francisco KQED/KQEH  February 28, 7:00 a.m.

Connecticut CPTV                     March 14, 5:30 p.m.

Delaware WHYY                       March 1, 6:00 a.m.
                                                      March 1, 11:00 p.m.
                                                      March 7, 9:30 a.m.

Florida
     Fort Myers WGCU               March 1, 12:00 p.m. (Create/Encore TV 30.3)

     West Palm Beach WXEL      March 9, 9:30 p.m.
                                                      March 10, 12:30 a.m.

Idaho PTV                                  March 1, 1:00 p.m. IDAHO (1)
                                                      March 5, 7:30 p.m. PLUS (2)
                                                      March 9, 7:00 p.m. IDAHO (1)
                                                      March 13, 7:00 p.m. PLUS (2)

Illinois
     Chicago WTTW                    March 11, 7:30 p.m.
                                                      March 14, 7:00 p.m.

     Urbana WILL                         March 8, 1:00 p.m.

Indiana
     Evansville WNIN                   March 1, 6:30 a.m.

     Gary WYIN                            March 15, 8:00 p.m.
                                                     March 21, 2:00 a.m. 

Kansas 
     Topeka KTWU                       March 12, 8:30 p.m.

     Wichita KPTS                         February 28, 4:00 p.m.

Kentucky KET                            March 11, 1:00 p.m.

Louisiana LPB                            March 3, 8:30 p.m. LPB
                                                       March 7, 7:00 p.m. LPB2

Maine MPBN                              March 10, 8:00 p.m.
                                                       March 14, 5:30 p.m.
                                                       March 16, 4:30 a.m.

Maryland MPT                           March 1, 11:30 a.m. (MPT-HD)
                                                       March 6, 4:30 p.m. (MPT-HD)
                                                       March 6, 8:00 p.m. (MPT2)
                                                       March 7, 12:00 p.m. (MPT2)

Massachusetts
     Boston WGBH                        March 6, 7:30 p.m.

Michigan
     East Lansing WKAR                March 7, 12:30 a.m.

     Flint/Saginaw/Bay City WDCQ  March 1, 12:00 p.m.

     Marquette WNMU                 March 8, 3:30 p.m.

Minnesota
     Minneapolis LPTV                March 1, 5:00 p.m. (KAWE, Lakeland HD)
                                                       March 2, 7:00 p.m. (Lakeland Plus)
                                                       March 3, 3:30 a.m. (KAWE, Lakeland HD)
                                                       March 3, 3:00 p.m. (Lakeland Plus) 

Missouri
     Kansas City KCPT                 March 5, 5:30 p.m. (19.2)
                                                       March 8, 3:30 p.m. (19.2)
                                                       March 9, 5:00 p.m. (19.2)
                                                       March 14, 4:30 p.m. (19.1 HD)

     St. Louis KETC                      March 3, 8:00 p.m.

Montana KUSM                          March 4, 12:00 p.m.
                                                       March 4, 7:00 p.m. 
                                                       March 6, 1:00 a.m.  

New Mexico KENW                   March 1, 2:30 p.m. (Channel 3-1)
                                                       March 1, 6:30 p.m. (Channel 3-2)

New York
     Syracuse WCNY                   February 28, 9:00 p.m. 

     Watertown WPBS                March 1, 4:30 p.m.

North Carolina UNC-TV         March 8, 6:30 p.m.    

Ohio 
     Athens WOUB                     March 7, 5:30 p.m.
                                                     March 7, 10:30 p.m. 

     Cincinnati WCET                 February 28, 10:00 a.m.
                                                     March 3, 8:00 p.m.
                                                     March 8, 10:00 a.m.
     
     Cleveland WVIZ                  March 9, 9:30 p.m.

Oklahoma OETA                       March 8, 4:30 p.m. 

Oregon
     Medford SOPTV                 March 2, 9:30 p.m. (SOPTV, KSYS)
                                                     March 22, 11:00 p.m.
                                                     March 24, 4:00 a.m. 

Pennsylvania
     Erie WQLN                        March 1, 9:00 a.m. 

Rhode Island
     Providence WSBE              March 1, 3:30 p.m.   

South Carolina SCETV           March 1, 5:00 p.m.
                                                     March 2, 9:30 p.m.
                                                     March 5, 3:00 a.m.
                                                     March 5, 9:30 p.m.

Tennessee 
     Knoxville ETPBS               February 28, 5:30 p.m.

Texas
     San Antonio KLRN            March 1, 6:30 p.m.
                                                   March 4, 2:00 a.m.

Utah
     Provo KBYU                       March 4, 10:30 p.m.

Vermont VPT Plus                  March 5, 8:00 p.m.
                                                    March 6, 10:00 a.m.
                                                    March 12, 9:30 p.m. 

Virginia
     Richmond WCVE             March 7, 8:00 p.m.

     Roanoke Blue Ridge PBS  March 4, 6:00 a.m.
                                                     March 4, 3:00 p.m.
                                                     March 4, 10:00 p.m.
                                                     March 5, 8:00 a.m.
                                                     March 5, 6:00 p.m.
                                                     March 6, 12:00 a.m.
                                                     March 10, 7:30 a.m.
                                                     March 10, 6:30 p.m.

Washington DC WETA         February 28, 6:30 p.m.
                                                   March 3, 10:30 a.m. 
                                                   March 6, 10:30 p.m. 

Wisconsin
     Madison WPT                   March 1, 3:30 p.m. 
        Has a Live Stream channel, so may be able to watch it!

     Milwaukee MPTV             March 1, 11:30 a.m. (MPT-HD)
                                                   March 6, 4:30 p.m. (MPT-HD)
                                                   March 6, 8:00 p.m. (MPT2)
                                                   March 7, 12:00 p.m. (MPT2)

Ontario
     Gananoque WPBS             March 1, 4:30 p.m.


I'll update the list as other airings become available.

One interesting note, according to the TV listing for Chicago WTTW, "Libera's 2013 program, Angels Sing, Christmas in Ireland, was one of the most watched Christmas shows on PBS during its December run." That's great news! Congratulations to Libera!

Libera Interview on Russian Television

Isaac, Cassius, & Ciaran being interviewed for Russian TV

Three Libera boys, Isaac London, Cassius O'Connell-White, and Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey, were interviewed for the Russian TV show "Canon." This show aired in Russia on January 31, 2015. Thank you to Alexander Kruse (the Russian translator you hear) and the Russian fan page for uploading the video which you (hopefully) can view here. 

This is a transcript of the interview. Thank you to Anton and Stanislav for sending this to me and to Anton for helping with the translation. Remember this is an English translation of a Russian translation of the boys speaking in English which I cannot hear because the translator is speaking over them. But you get the idea. lol

Reporter: Hello, dear viewers. On today's TV program "Canon," I want to sincerely congratulate all of you on our anniversary. Exactly ten years ago we began broadcasting on television channel "Union." I wish many good years to all my colleagues and to you, our dear viewer. Today for the fifth Moscow Christmas Festival of Sacred Music, I introduce to you an amazing group, angelic singing which erases all linguistic, cultural, and political barriers. Our guest in the London boys choir, Libera.
Hello, boys. How are you? We're glad to see you.

Boys: Good, fine, yeah great.

Reporter: What is your name?

Boys: Isaac, I'm Cassius, and I'm Ciaran.

Reporter: It's your first time in Russia. What are your impressions of our country? Is there anything that you got to see?

Cassius: We did see a few places when we were coming into our hotel. It is very different from London, especially the architecture, and we really like it. 

Reporter: 2014 was the UK-Russia Year of Culture. Did you go to any concerts with Russian performers or hear any Russian choirs?

Isaac: I did not go to concerts, but yes, I heard that this was the year of culture, the year of Russian culture. I knew about it.

Reporter: How long have you been singing in the choir, and who introduced you to Libera? How did you hear about the existence of this group?

Cassius: We all come from different area schools, and we all get together to sing, and after that it's more of a social thing and it's fun. 

Libera - "Carol of the Bells" (featuring a very young Cassius at the end!) :D

Reporter:Your choir is known all over the world. Are there any other choirs like yours in England?

Isaac: Well, obviously there are other choirs, but we don't usually enter into competitions.

Reporter: So are you good English boys?

Cassius: Yeah (laughs)

Reporter: And tell me, how are your classes, and how often do you rehearse?

Cassius: Well, sometimes we have to move on stage when the lights are dim... and to not being able to see where you're going.

Reporter: And you learn in school?

Cassius: Yes, we are all like normal guys. We go to school, and we go on concert tours during the school holidays. For the rest, we work just like everyone else.

Reporter: And how do you manage to combine school and your rehearsals?

Ciaran: Our schedule is very dense. We have to rehearse almost every day of the week, and you have to run away from school at every possible moment to participate in a rehearsal.

Reporter: And you still have time for a normal childhood? Do you have any hobby?

Cassius: Yeah, we do. On the weekend we have church choir on Sunday, but on Saturday we can meet friends and play.

Libera - "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Reporter:You said that you sing in the church choir. What is more difficult: to sing at concerts or to sing at church services?

Isaac: Well, definitely through the concert because you have to remember positions and what song is next and what part to sing.

Reporter: Guys, you're holding a soft toy. Please tell us, is this a souvenir from Russia?

Cassius: This is Moose, and he is our choir mascot. He's been with us for too long, and he goes with us wherever we go. And he's the only moose who has traveled around the world.

Reporter: I noticed that in addition to what you smartly sing on stage there is constant movement. How long do you have to rehearse this?

Isaac: Well, I guess a half an hour total during the week if we do it for five minutes a day, we can all easily remember. If you practice it a few times then you remember it. We do it blindfolded also, and it helps us to remember our position on the stage. It forces us to rely on other senses, not the vision.

Cassius: And we do it blindfolded also, and that helps us. Isaac had in mind that we prepare at home 5 minutes a day. Usually when we practice on stage, it takes 4-5 days a week, and it takes more time.

Reporter: It sounds like marching in the army. In the future, you probably can work at Buckingham Palace and speak at military parades in front of the Queen. By the way, with regard to the future, what are your plans after you graduate from high school? What do you want to become?

Cassius: I change my mind every week, so one week it's an architect, then some of us want to stay with music. We have that passion still for music.

Libera - "Silent Night"

Reporter: And besides the fact that you sing, do you play any musical instruments?

Ciaran: Well, some of us actually play musical instruments, but our main tool is the voice. We sing every day of the week, and that is our main task.

Cassius: I play the piano.

Isaac: I play the trumpet.

Ciaran: I play the trombone. (Those last 2 were translated backwards, but I think I typed it correctly.)

Reporter: You were on the same stage with world-famous artists. Could you please share your impressions. What is a brilliant performance that you remember?

Cassius: Most recently we performed with Paul McCartney on his Destiny soundtrack. It was pretty amazing.

Isaac: We went to America, and we sung with all these artists like Meatloaf and Miley Cyrus.

Reporter: In general, England is known for its rock performers. You said Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, and what kind of music to listen to modern British teenagers?

Cassius: There's lots and lots of different ones. 

Ciaran: We listen to a lot of classical music, but we also like to listen to pop music and dub step. I really like dub step.

Isaac: Mainly cause my dad's into The Rolling Stones, I like music from the 70's.

Reporter: Each person has ideas about the other people. For example, many foreigners think that it is very cold in Russia and that there are bears on the street. When you return home, what impressions will you share with your friends and family?

Cassius: It's cold, but I have to admit that the architecture is absolutely amazing. There are no words.

Ciaran: It's cold but not as cold as I thought it would be. It's a little colder than in England. And of course the audience. The audience welcomed us very warmly.

Reporter: Tell me, do you really travel a lot, different than people in different countries around the world? As you take the audience?

Cassius: Some are quite lively, some are more restrained. They clap their hands and thank us, but not as loudly. But Russia, Russia is just amazing. We have never had such a reception as here.

Reporter: I know that professional singers have taboos on certain products. They do not drink cold water, they do not eat seeds or nuts or chocolate before the performance. Do you observe a diet?

Isaac: Yes.

Cassius: Yeah, usually before a concert no chocolate or it'll muck up your voice. That's fine with us.

Isaac: Actually before this concert we had some chocolate chips.

Cassius: I didn't.

Libera - "Ave Maria"

Reporter: Tell me, what would you like to pass on, to say to your peers in our country, the boys and girls? What would you wish for?

Cassius: Thank you so much for having us here. It's been a great experience  Being here, we didn't know what to expect. It's a great experience.

Reporter: They were soloists in the London boys choir, Libera. Guys, we wish you good health, vivid impressions of Russia, success, and will always wait for you in our country.

3 boys: Thank you, bye! (In Russian)

Josh Madine on PBS TV in Buffalo!

UPDATED - December 19 & 20, 2014 to show the new DVD/CD cover!

This is the second year in a row that Josh Madine has helped to host the premiere of a Libera DVD at WNED-TV in Buffalo, New York. This time they were showing the new "Angel Voices - Libera In America" DVD. Josh does such a great job talking about the choir.

Our friend, Kent, got to see the premiere live on TV and recorded the interview parts during the pledge (donation) drive. It's in 2 parts. Thank you, Kent!!



Part 1 opens with Cassius asking us to please stay tuned for their new concert, Angel Voices - Libera In America. "We're the boys of Libera. We're here, and we're ready to sing." Excellent!

Josh tells how he was 10 years old when he joined Libera. He also talks about how Libera likes to perform songs unique to the country they are visiting, so they performed "America the Beautiful" on this DVD filmed in the US. Starting at 8:00, you can hear a part of "Wayfaring Stranger!" :D





You can hear the phones ringing a lot in the background. I hope that lots of people donated to the PBS station and get the new DVD or CD. We got a sneak peek at what the cover will look like. :D

 

DVD & CD covers shown on PBS

It's beautiful! The official release date is March 3, 2015, but maybe it will be ready early. I hope so!

The First Airing of Libera's Washington DC DVD!!!

UPDATED - December 15 &18, 2014

Aaaaah! The first airing of Libera's new DVD filmed in Washington DC in August is tonight! And you lucky people in Buffalo, NY get to see it first! It's airing on Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. EST on PBS station WNED. It looks like it will then be replayed from 9:30 - 11:00 p.m. on the same night. You can see their schedule here.

We also know that the name of the new DVD/CD will be "Angels Sing, Libera In America." :D

Buffalo also got to be the first city to see Libera's Christmas DVD, "Libera - Angels Sing, Christmas In Ireland" in October 2013. That one was special because Josh Madine flew to Buffalo to be on the live show. See here. Is there anyone who is able to watch the Buffalo station that would record, not the Libera DVD part, but the part where the hosts talk about the DVD? But we'd still love to know what you thought of the DVD! I've heard it all turned out beautifully. 

Libera fan, Kent R, uploaded WNED's promo commercial for the new DVD. You can hear Cassius O'Connell-White speaking! :D



Here's what is said -

Cassius - Angel Voices - Libera In America. We've traveled all the way from London for our first production for PBS to be recorded in the U.S. We're singing in the amazing Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, and the music is, well, Libera-like.

Announcer - Thursday night at 8:00 on WNED. 


You can get the CD/DVD as a gift by donating to WNED here. Just fill in the donation form and scroll down to choose the Libera CD for $72, DVD for $96, or CD+DVD for $156. 

I wonder if this means that the release date for the CD and DVD will be earlier than March. :D   

Libera Filming a New Music Video

Libera tweeted 2 very interesting pictures with a message - 

"Back to the dark days of child labour with our video filming in Victorian Armley Mills, Leeds"

They must be filming a new video that shows how children used to work in factories. I wonder what song they will sing for this. The pictures look like they are at the Leeds Industrial Museum. It used to be the world's largest woolen mill. In the early 1800's, the working conditions were not regulated, and sadly there were children who often worked in unsafe environments.

Now, can you figure out who each boy is? Patrick and I had quite the discussion on this, because the first boy looks like Gabe but with lighter and longer hair. Is he wearing a wig? Here's my best guess on who is who. See if you agree. :)

Gabe, Timothy, Matthew J, Tom, Ciaran, Michael, Matthew M, Shay, Sam,

Camden, Ben, Lucas, Marc, Alex M, Rocco, Isaac, Alessandro, Alex G

In the factory

Looking forward to seeing this new video. Maybe it will be on Songs of Praise.

Libera's QVC UK Appearance

UPDATED - October 26, 2014 to add video

 

I love everything about this picture! :D 

But then along came this one! lolol

Did you see Libera on QVC UK?! They did a great job singing. Thanks to Patrick for uploading the video for everyone to see!




There were 17 boys -

Front row: Ben Fairman, Tom Delgado-Little, Alessandro Mackinnon-Botti, Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey, Isaac London, Alex Gula, Marc Alvares, Lucas Wood, Sam Wiggin

Back row: Camden Stewart, Shay Balsekar, Timothy Lee, Matthew Jansen, Rocco Tesei, Alex Montoro, Michael Menezes, Matthew Madine

They sang "Carol of the Bells" while over 300 people were on hold to order their 2011 "The Christmas Album" CD. Tom and Lucas sang the high "aah's" and then Isaac sang the last "Ding dong, ding dong." They sounded so good!! I'm only sorry that the show hosts didn't interview the boys. I'll upload the video if someone posts it on YouTube.

What an amazing price!

Libera on set

 

Alex M, Marc, Lucas, Michael M, Rocco

 

Camden

Ciaran, Isaac, Alex G, Rocco

Ben, Tom

Camden, Shay, Ben, Tom, Alessandro

Matthew M, Sam

Ciarnan, Isaac

17 boys

Matthew J, Alessandro

Tom, Timothy

Tom on his solo

Marc, Lucas on his solo, Michael M

Isaac during his solo

Great job, boys! :D

Libera on QVC UK

Mark your calendar and set your alarm clock! Libera will be performing live on QVC UK on Saturday, October 25, 2014. They are scheduled to be on the Saturday Morning Gift Show which airs from 9:00-11:00 am UK time, but they could be on as early as 9:00 am, so start watching then. That's 4:00 am on the East Coast of the US and 3:00 am in Chicago.

Libera will be singing "Carol of the Bells" during the show and probably doing interviews like they did when they appeared back in 2011. You can watch QVC UK's channel online at qvcuk.com/LiveChannel.content.html   

QVC UK's blog says that Libera will be appearing on their Saturday Night Show from 8:00-10:00 pm, but that may be a replay of their appearance on the Saturday Morning Gift Show.

If you want to tweet with other Libera fans while you watch the show, I'm @chocolatlvr on Twitter. Just look up other fans under my following list. And, of course, follow Libera at @officiallibera.

QVC UK is using Libera's "Carol of the Bells" song for their Christmas ad campaign.




How cool is that?! Are you ready for Christmas now? :D

~Lauren


 

Libera on Songs of Praise Remembering Start of WWI

Libera was featured on the BBC Songs of Praise TV show today. The show was commemorating the start of World War I. There were 3 new videos and 1 older video by Libera. Thank you so much to Jimmy Riddle for uploading it to YouTube for all of us to see!



Here's the music video portions released by Libera.


The first video is for "You Are There" with Isaac London singing the solo. The actually filmed this at Flanders Field Museum in Ypres, Belgium.




The second video is "We Are the Lost" with Sam Wiggin soloing. It was filmed at The Casements Arches underneath the Ramparts, 100m from The Menin Gate where the ‘Wiper Times’ were typed in Ypres, Belgium.




The third video is "Rest in Peace" with Tom Delgado-Little singing the solo. It was filmed at Sanctuary Wood (Hill 62) Museum, Ypres, Belgium, where the original trenches are still intact.

Songs of Praise WWI Preview Video

As I posted before, Libera will be on the "Songs of Praise" TV show in the UK this Sunday, August 3 at 4:25 pm on BBC Two. BBC has a short preview of the show.



Next week, Bill visits St. George's Memorial Church in Ypres, Belgium to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War a hundred years ago. Classical chart-toppers, Libera, sing against the backdrop of the battlefields and uncover some of their own families' war stories.


Libera also posted about this - 

"As part of the BBC commemoration of the centenary of World War 1, Libera travelled to France and Belgium in May to film a special 'Songs of Praise' programme for transmission on Sunday 3rd August at 4 25pm on BBC2.

The programme makers researched the history of some of the boys' families, and discovered that many of them had ancestors who had fought in the conflict.

The boys located the memorials to their relatives who died in the war - some had marked graves, others had no known grave but had their names carved into the Thiepval monument which contains over 72,000 inscriptions.

They also visited Ypres and Sanctuary Wood to film performances of Libera songs."

Yes, you read that correctly! Libera SONGS! As in more than one. :D Hope someone in the UK records the show and posts it for all of us to see! Thank you to Jimmy Riddle for posting the preview video above.

Here are more pictures from Libera of their time in France and Belgium in May.

Filming for "Songs of Praise"

Sam Wiggin

 Walking by In Flanders Fields Museum, Ypres, Belgium

In front of the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium

Filming outside in Sanctuary Wood, Belgium

Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey

Tom Delgado-Little

Tom & Ciaran

Alex Gula

Ben Fairman & Isaac London being interviewed

At the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme

Libera Filming a New DVD in Washington, DC!!

UPDATED July 2, 6 & 21, 2014

Seats are filling up fast! Restricted view seats have been added!
The start time has been changed to 7:30 pm.

Exciting news, Libera fans!!! Libera will be coming to the USA to film another DVD!!! They say on their web site that they will film it at a free concert at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC on August 7, and it will be used by American PBS stations for their pledge drives. The great thing is that we fans all over the world can get the DVD also. =)  I'm hoping they sing a lot of the songs from the Spring 2014 Tour, so we can all hear them. Will there be new songs? Will there be any little newbie choristers? And, oh my goodness, that church is so beautiful! It's the 8th largest church building in the world!

They also say to "look out for other Libera performances in the US this summer." Don't you wish they would come to your town?!

 

Washington, DC

    Thursday, August 7, 2014, 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:00 p.m.
    Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
    400 Michigan Avenue NE
    Phone: (202) 526-8300
    http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/
    Seating: 3,500 

    Price: Free              
    Tickets: available at liberausa.ticketsource.us
    Reserved seating section for Libera.us donors - details coming soon

Exterior

Interior

Interior

Interior

The Basilica is in the northeast section of Washington, DC

Parking and Red Line Brookland-CUA Metro Stop

Link to DC Metro Map - http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm

Seating chart - restricted view seats have been added to the sides

Stay tuned for more!

Libera Filming in France for Songs of Praise!

UPDATED - May 31 & June 26, 2014

We now know the filming the boys did in France IS for Songs of Praise! The program will commemorate the start of WWI and air on August 3 on BBC Two. BBC gives some interesting information about Libera's part of the program.

"In addition, classical chart toppers Libera sing against the backdrop of the battlefields and discover some of their own family history in connection with the war. Ciaran Bradbury goes in search of the grave of his great, great Uncle Stanley Bradbury who was a Corporal in the Royal Flying Corps while Sam Wiggin wants to find the name of his great, great Uncle George Michie which he has been told is on the Monument to the Missing in Thiepval."

That is so cool to have relatives who bravely fought for England. Hope we all get to see this episode.

You can read the BBC web page here. Thank you to Jimmy Riddle for the link!

******************************************

Exciting news! Libera is busy again! On May 28 they posted that they were on their way to France for TV filming. I'm guessing it's something for Songs of Praise, but you never know. The 100th anniversary of World War I is coming up as is the 70th anniversary of D-Day from World War II. Maybe it's something for that?

Crossing the English Channel by boat

The next day they teased us with more pictures of them filming in France. Here they are wearing their blue shirts and coats.

Looking thoughtful for the camera

In front of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme,

built to honor the missing or unidentified British soldiers from

the Battle of the Somme in World War I.

 

I have a friend, Josh, who is a total history nerd, especially about war-related stuff. 

He was taking a Graduate level 500 history class our Freshman year!!

I asked him what kind of gun this is, and of course he knew, cause that's the kind of person he is.

He said, "It's a British 25 pounder. It was their main artillery gun of World War 2.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but I believe it is a Mark 2 Ordnance QF 25 pounder."

OK, then. There you go.

Does anyone know where these war trenches are?

My mom thinks it looks like WWI Sanctuary Wood in Belgium.

But my history nerd friend said, "They appear to be old French trenches 

that belonged to the Maginot Line. The forest in the background would indicate

 the Ardenne Forest between Belgium and France, so they would be technically

 in France. As a side note, they appear to have been fortified at some point 

during German occupation between 1940-1944." 

Besides being a nerd, he's also a bit of a show-off. ;)

Yesterday they were filming wearing their white robes. You can see a screen behind them with what looks like a photo of a bombed out building. 

Maybe Tom is singing a solo? :)

2nd day of filming

Then today they posted that they have finished filming.

They also had some time for sightseeing and fun. Can't wait to see this video! Hope it airs soon!