“At the darkest moment comes the light.”  - Joseph Campbell

 Out of the shadows of post-war Europe and inspired by ancient Requiem chants shines some of the twentieth century’s most radiant and ethereal music. In this concert, Duruflé’s exquisite motets and masterful Requiem are presented alongside Ligeti’s astonishing Lux Aeterna and Messiaen’s luminous O Sacrum Convivium.

Peter Sculthorpe’s transcendent Lullaby, a re-imagining of a Torres-Strait Island song, lies at the heart of this great Australian composer’s own Requiem. Michael Yezerski (composer of music for the feature film The Black Balloon) takes a different approach, starting from the Jewish equivalent of the requiem, the Hebrew Kaddish. This new work for voices and cello, commissioned by Sydney Chamber Choir, will receive its world premiere at this concert. 

Conductor: Thomas Wilson

Guest Artists: Amy Johansen (organ), Julian Smiles (cello)

Duruflé: Requiem 

Duruflé: Four motets on Gregorian themes

Messiaen: O Sacrum Convivium! 

Ligeti: Lux Aeterna 

Sculthorpe: Requiem for cello alone [selections]

Sculthorpe: Lullaby (Canticle) from Requiem 

Yezerski: New Work for choir and cello