Sydney Philharmonia Sings Arvo Pärt’s Berliner Messe

CHORAL MUSIC / Sydney Philharmonia Choirs


Sydney Philharmonia Choirs present:
Arvo Pärt’s Berliner Messe (Berlin Mass) 

Saturday, 13th March 2pm and 5pm
St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney 

 

 

For its first concert of 2021, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs turn to the music from the Baltic region, with a concert featuring Arvo Pärt’s luminous Berliner Messe (Berlin Mass).  Pärt is an Estonian composer of classical and religious music. His music is in part inspired by Gregorian chant. His most performed works include Fratres, Spiegel im Spiegel, and Für Alina.

  Image Credit: Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

In building this program, Sydney Philharmonia has chosen music that highlights the pristine young voices of VOX – music which they love to sing. If you know the sound world of Arvo Pärt, you’ll know what makes him one of the most popular and frequently performed living composers. The apparent simplicity, the bell-like tones, close harmonies and chant-like, introspective melodies combine in music that is deeply spiritual. But it’s not all floating serenity – what makes music like the Berliner Messe so moving is its emotional range and rich intensity of feeling. 

Elizabeth Scott conducts VOX Philharmonia Choir for the premiere of Aija Draguns' new choral work, Lux Aeterna. The piece was performed and recorded at St Andrews Cathedral in Sydney, within Vox's 'Berliner Messe' (Arvo Pärt ) concert on the 13th of March 2021. (YouTube, uploaded by Aija Draguns Music. Accessed April 13, 2021.)

 

 Lux Aeterna || Aija Draguns (VOX Premiere)

 

In this concert Pärt will be joined by Latvian composers Pēteris Vasks and Ēriks Ešenvalds as well as some Australian voices, including Aija Draguns, a member of VOX who brings her own Latvian heritage, and Matthew Orlovich, whose work was commissioned for Sydney Philharmonia's centenary last year. Their chosen texts are meditations of faith, optimism and sheer joy that resonate beyond the confines of any one liturgy or religious tradition. And their musical settings will fill the reverberant space of St Andrew’s Cathedral with sound of pure beauty.

Program:

Deborah CHEETHAM & Matthew DOYLE Tarimi nulay – long time living here
Ēriks EŠENVALDS The Heavens Flock
Arvo PÄRT Berliner Messe
Ēriks EŠENVALDS Only in Sleep
Aija DRAGUNS Lux æterna*
Arvo PÄRT Morning Star
Arvo PÄRT Da pacem, Domine
Pēteris VASKS Pater noster
Matthew ORLOVICH Joyful, Joyful!*†

* Premiere
† Matthew Orlovich’s Joyful, Joyful! was commissioned as part of our 100 Minutes of New Australian Music centenary project in 2020. We’re delighted to be performing it at last.

Elizabeth Scott conductor
VOX
Sydney Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra
Fiona Ziegler concertmaster

Concert duration: 60 minutes, no interval

General Admission $60 plus booking fee
Under 30’s $30 plus booking fee

Book Now

 

Rave reviews:

(added 16 March 2021)

 

Saturday’s 'Berliner Messe' concert was a triumph! The audience feedback has been as glowing as the music. Bravo to VOX, the outstanding musicians and, and naturally, VOX Music Director Elizabeth "Liz" Scott who led them with such joy! 

 

Limelight: “…[VOX] gave voice to Pärt’s music as one, building monumental blocks of sound as solid and impermeable as the great pillars of rough-hewn sandstone surrounding them in St Andrew’s Cathedral. This, against the transparent layers of sound from the string ensemble, coalesced into a rich outpouring of faith.” Harriet Cunningham. Full review >

 

Sydney Arts Guide: “The Vox young adult choir seemed flawless and disciplined throughout this complex diverse program. This in itself might have been in part an expression of delight at reconnecting with each other and their audience. Long may these young voices be with us.” Geoffrey Sykes. Full review > 

 

J Wire: “The 340 Covid-capacity audience had been treated to first class performance both in execution and in program choice.” Fraser Beath McEwing. Full review >

 

Sydney Morning Herald: “…VOX cut through…with purity of sound, clarity of articulation and precision of pitch”. Standing ovation for 'major contribution to Australian choral music' by Peter McCallum. review>... review of VOX Berliner Messe is alongside his earlier review of Sydney Chamber Choir's Requiem by Paul Stanhope.

 

 

Suggested Listening: 

 

Arvo Pärt - Berliner Messe. 

Conductor: Spivakov, Vladimir Orchestra: Moscow Virtuosi Choir: Academy of Choral Art Choir. Capriccio 2004  YouTube, uploaded by Jason Marcieski. Accessed 24 February 2021. 

 

Reference Reading:

Berliner Messe. en.wikipedia.org

 

Resources:

• Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: Berliner Messe. Limelight. Accessed 24 February 2021.
  
• Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents Berliner Messe. EveriEvents. Accessed 24 February 2021.
  
• Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Presents Berliner Messe. Live Music. Accessed 24 February 2021.
  
• Sydney Philharmonia Choirs  Website (Available at this posting). Accessed 24 February 2021.
• Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Announce 2021 Season. Broadway World. Accessed 24 February 2021.

 

IMPORTANT COVID-19 SAFETY INFORMATION

(Note from Sydney Philharmonia Choirs) 

• Audience members over the age of 12 are required to wear masks. This is a condition of entry.
• We will be limiting the number of people in the Cathedral in accordance with current Public Health Orders and ensuring appropriate physical distancing at all times.
• Hand sanitiser will be available.
• To minimise unnecessary contact, we will be distributing a digital program book, available in advance.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ABOUT COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN

 

 

(c) February 24, 2021. Updated April 13, 2021. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.