Friday 19 April 2019

The Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer – An oratorio composed by John Stainer (1840-1901) in 1887.

Stainer's Crucifixion is among the most popular choral works from the English repertoire. Stainer used JS Bach's Great Passions as a model, but wanted to compose a work for choirs of all levels. The Crucifixion vividly and dramatically describes the events of the Easter story, from the crowd's violent exclamations to heavenly beautiful meditations.

The vocal ensemble Edvard Grieg Kor is the resident ensemble at Edvard Grieg's home, Troldhaugen. The choir's repertoire spans across genres, and the singers can often be heard together with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and as the core of the choir at Bergen National Opera's performances. Through performances both in Norway and abroad, the choir has achieved status as a leading eight-part a cappella ensemble, and a whole series of works and arrangements have been dedicated to them, including by well-known composers such as Jonathan Rathbone and David Lang.

Edvard Grieg Choir
Stevie Higgins, conductor
Sigurd Melvær Øgaard, organ