Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Rachmaninoff's VESPERS

Choral Singing / Choral Music

Rachmaninoff's VESPERS presented by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Date: Saturday 20 July 2024, 7pm 
Venue: Sydney Town Hall

Lie back on a yoga mat in the Sydney Town Hall and immerse yourself in the sumptuous and captivating beauty of Rachmaninoff’s favourite creation, his All-Night Vigil ( his 'Vespers'), with the soaring voices of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Symphony Chorus performing a cappella. Seating options include (supplied) yoga mats on the main floor and regular seats in the galleries and on the stage.

 

~ ~ ~ 

 

                                         An Immersive Experience 

 

The sun goes down, the devout gather, a worshipful vigil begins. The atmosphere is austere and contemplative in its simplicity. But the sound! The sound is rich and resonant with ancient chants and choral folksong – the voices of the choir uniting as a living, breathing instrument.

If you know Rachmaninoff – piano virtuoso and the last of the Romantics – you might be surprised to learn that his favourite creation was his All-Night Vigil. This magnificent work combines the sumptuous sonorities of the Russian Orthodox liturgical tradition with Rachmaninoff’s own irresistible Romantic style for a musical experience that’s literally heaven on earth. And in this rare Sydney performance, we’re inviting you to lie back and immerse yourself in this gorgeous music.

Performing a cappella, SPC Symphony Chorus will shine in music that soars heavenward, plunges into the rich bass registers, imitates bells, and reveals to rapturous effect what can be achieved with voices alone.

Join Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for a musical vigil to elevate your spirit.

Seating options for this concert include yoga mats on the main floor of the Sydney Town Hall. Regular seats in the galleries, around the perimeter of the floor and on the stage.   

Saturday 20 July at 7pm
Sydney Town Hall

PROGRAM

Sergei RACHMANINOFF All-Night Vigil

ARTISTS

Brett Weymark conductor

Hannah Fraser mezzo-soprano
Louis Hurley tenor
Symphony Chorus
Nicholas Russoniello saxophone
Sydney Philharmonia String Ensemble

Duration: This performance will run for 1 hour and 10 minutes. No interval.

Reviews: 

Rachmaninoff's Vespers. www.jwire.com.au. July 23, 2024 by Shirley Politzer. Accessed August 11, 2024.

Review: Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil at the Sydney Town Hall. eastsidefm.org. By Neeson, July 21, 2024. Accessed August 11, 2024.

SYDNEY PHILHARMONIA CHOIRS: RACHMANINOFF’S VESPERS @ SYDNEY TOWN HALL. sydneyartsguide.com. By Paul Nolan. July 22, 2024. Accessed August 11, 2024.

Vespers. By Sergei Rachmaninoff. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Director Brett Weymark. Sydney Town Hall. Saturday 20th July, 2024. Stagewhispers.com.au.  Accessed August 11, 2024.

Image  Credit:

Rachmaninoff's VESPERS, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Resources:

Rachmaninoff's VESPERS. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed June 26, 2024  (Available at this time)

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' 2023 Season Catalogue. 

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Will Perform Rachmaninoff's VESPERS in July.  Broadway World.  By Stephi Wild Jun. 18, 2024. Accessed June 26, 2024.

A limited number of printed program books will be available for $10 each at the concert. 

Download your free digital program book: https://bit.ly/RachVespersProgram

BOOK TICKETS HERE

COVID-19 SAFETY AT SPC CONCERTS

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs regularly update their guidelines based on health directives from NSW Government & the Sydney Opera House. 

 

(c) June 26, 2024. Tel.  Inspired Pen Web.  All rights reserved.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Mozart Requiem & Revelations

CHORAL MUSIC / Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs present:
MOZART Requiem & Revelations

 

Saturday, 19 March 2022, 3pm
Sydney Town Hall

Photo Credit: Robert Catto

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem is legendary in more ways than one. Even setting aside the popular fictions, there’s something deeply moving in the idea of a composer striving on his deathbed to finish his last creation, breaking off just a few lines into the heartbreaking lament of the Lacrimosa. And of his widow handing the music over to a student so it could be completed for the “mystery” client. It’s a well-known story – as familiar to music-lovers as the music itself. 

Which is why Brett Weymark wants us to hear it with fresh ears. Mozart would have expected to hear his Requiem in church, with chanting and ceremonial business between the musical numbers. In this program, Brett has created a kind of “liturgy” for the concert hall, interweaving the sections of the Requiem with music from throughout Mozart’s life – musical gems that hint at what was to come.

Some you’ll probably recognise (the Ave verum corpus), some may seem oddly familiar (a gorgeous choral adaptation of the Adagio from the Gran Partita), others will sound intriguingly new. Together they amplify the beauty and drama of Mozart’s ultimate masterwork in a musical revelation.

And in Dolor ultimæ melodiæ (Grief of the last song), Jessica Wells creates a meditation on the “Amen” of the Lacrimosa – picking up with a contemporary voice from the point where Mozart left off.

 

Clockwise from top left: Soprano Chloe Lankshear, Mezzo-soprano Sally-Anne Russell, Bass David Greco and Tenor Andrew Goodwin. 

Photo credit: SPC

 

Sydney composer Jessica Wells

Photo Credit: Steven Godbee

 

PROGRAM

Deborah CHEETHAM & Matthew DOYLE Tarimi Nulay – Long time living here*
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART Requiem (Süssmayr completion)
interleaved with…
Masonic Funeral Music, K.477
Miserere mei (Kyrie, K.90)
Ne pulvis et cini, K.Anh.122 (based on a chorus from Thamos, King of Egypt)
Solfeggio No.2 (Adagio), K.393
Quis te comprehendat, K.Anh. 110 (based on the Adagio from the Gran Partita, K.361)
O Gottes Lamm (from 2 Sacred Hymns, K.343)
Ave verum corpus, K.618
Laudate Dominum (from Solemn Vespers for a Confessor, K.339)
and traditional plainchants from the Mass for the Dead
Jessica WELLS Dolor ultimæ melodiæ**
* Commissioned for our 100 Minutes of New Australian Music project
**Premiere

ARTISTS

Brett Weymark conductor
Chloe Lankshear soprano
Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano
Andrew Goodwin tenor
David Greco bass
Symphony Chorus
Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra

 

This program will be approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. No interval. 

 

TICKETS

Premium $112 | A $92 | B $71 | C $50
Concessions $101 | A $83| B $64 | C $45
A booking fee of $8.50 per transaction applies.

BOOK Tickets Here

 

Reviews:

 

•  Mozart Requiem and Revelations (Sydney Philharmonia Choirs).  This "Requiem of the Imagination", featuring Mozart and new music by Jessica Wells, was a superb concert eliciting excitement and joy. Limelight Magazine, by Steve Moffatt. Reviewed 19 March 2022. Accessed 24 Mrch 2022.
  

•  MOZART – REQUIEM AND REVELATIONS | Sydney Arts Guide. Sydney Arts Guide by Paul Nolan. Reviewed 22 March 2022. Accessed March 24. 2022.

•  Review: Mozart: Requiem & Revelation at the Sydney Town Hall. EastSideFm(89.7),  by Paul Neeson. Reviewed 20 March 2022. Accessed 24 March 2022.
  

 

Resources & Features:

• 2022 Season Together Again. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.  
• "Beyond the Requiem with Brett Weymark and Jessica Wells". A conductor and composer map out a journey through Mozart's final masterpiece for Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Limelight Magazine. By Clive Paget on 11 March, 2022. Accessed March 11, 2022. 
• Mozart Requiem & Revelations. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. (Available at this posting) Accessed 4 February 2022.    
• Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Performs 'Mozart: Requiem & Revelations' at Sydney Town Hall in March. The performance is on Saturday March 19. Broadway World Sydney. By Stephi Wild, February 7, 2022. Accessed February 8, 2022.

 

COVID-19 SAFETY INFORMATION

(Note from Sydney Philharmonia Choirs) 

• All SPC singers, musicians and staff are double vaccinated.
• Audiences will be required to QR code and show proof of double vaccination upon entry to the Sydney Town Hall.
• Audiences will be required to wear masks throughout the performance. If this changes we will inform patrons as soon as possible.
• Hand sanitiser will be available.
• A digital program book will be available on this page a week prior to the concert. A limited number of printed program books will be available for $5 each at the concert.

Details About SPC  COVID Safe Plan 

 

 

This website supports Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

 

 

(c) February 4, 2022. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.