The concert combines the tonal depth and beauty of sacred choral music from Europe and America. Baroque elegance, romantic intensity and the expanse of modern soundscapes merge in a varied program that leads the audience through thoughtfulness, consolation and hope.
The program begins with the dramatic setting of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's "Mitten wir im Leben sind", a work that vividly depicts the fragility of human existence. Baroque masters such as Johann Michael Bach and Gottfried August Homilius devote themselves to transience and the hope of redemption in the finest tonal language.
The second half of the program leads into the sonic worlds of North America: works such as René Clausen's "Set Me as a Seal", Amy Beach's "Peace I leave with you" and Jake Runestad's "I will lift my eyes" unfold an impressive musical reflection on consolation and confidence. The highlight is Eric Whitacre's "Alleluia", a fascinating work that closes the concert with floating harmonies and meditative depth.
Instrumental interludes for organ and cello connect the program sections and invite moments of silence and reflection. An evening that brings to life the diversity and unifying power of sacred music from different eras and cultures.
