Wednesday 07 December 2022

“How then can mortal tongue hope to express
The image of such endless perfection?”

This last line from Edmund Spenser's poem "Faire is the heaven", exquisitely set to music by Sir William Harris, is the starting point for tonight's concert. "Mot himmelen" is composed of music by Parry, Ligeti, Grieg and Harris, and explores each composer's deeply personal expression of heaven and eternity.

Edvard Grieg Choir
Edward Gardner – Conductor
Roderick Williams – baritone soloist

Program:

Faire is the heaven – Sir William Harris (1883-1973)

Songs of Farewell (1916-18) – Sir C. Hubert Parry (1848-1918)
1. My soul, there is a country
2. I know my soul has power to know all things
3. Never weather-beaten sail
4. There is an old belief
5. At the round earth's imagined corners
6. Lord, let me know my end

Lux Aeterna (1966) – György Ligeti (1923-2006)

Four Hymns, Op.74 (1906-7) – Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Soloist – Roderick Williams
1. What are you anyway?
2. The Son of God has set me free
3. Jesus Christ is the sacrifice
4. In Heaven