THE SORROW AND THE BEAUTY

Music of Pärt, Lang, Burhans, Shaw and Whitacre
Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (pre-concert talk at 4:00 p.m.)
All Souls Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10075

The Beatitudes by Arvo Pärt for choir and organ
The Little Match Girl Passion by David Lang for choir and percussion
Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt for viola and piano
Super Flumina Babylonis by Caleb Burhans for choir, viola, cello, celesta and percussion
Limestone and Felt by Caroline Shaw for viola and cello
Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre for choir, piano and percussion

Musica Viva NY choir
Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, conductor
Organ, piano and celesta – Trent Johnson
Viola – Marta Lambert
Cello – Clara Abel
Percussion – Kathryn Fortunato and Tasha Becker

Ticketing
Tickets: $40 ($30 for students) are available from our site at MusicaViva.org/tickets

Train 6 to 77th Street or N/Q/R to 86th Street

Described as a 21st century classic, the Pulitzer Prize winning The Little Match Girl Passion by David Lang (2007) combines the Hans Christian Anderson story with form elements from Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, to create an emotional and transformational journey. Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel (1978) for viola and piano is a minimalist, meditative piece that gently invites us into its calm presence. Caleb Burhans’ Super Flumina Babylonis (2013) is a sumptuous and expressive choral setting of Psalm 137 by the New York City composer who seamlessly combines classical, ambient and post-rock styles. Limestone & Felt (2012) presents two kinds of surfaces—essentially hard and soft. This piece for viola and cello by Caroline Shaw may represent two opposing ways we experience history and design our own present. The music of Eric Whitacre was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as being “of unearthly beauty and imagination”, while Cloudburst (1995) was described by the composer himself as reverent, meditative and centered, adjectives which also convey the message of this entire program.

About Musica Viva NY

Praised by The New York Times as an “excellent chorus”, Musica Viva NY is a chamber choir of 30+ professionals and highly skilled volunteers. Since its founding in 1977, Musica Viva NY has been based in Manhattan’s historic All Souls Church. Under the baton of Artistic Director Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, its mission is to bring world-class music to a widening community through its annual concert series, community engagement programs, and an ambitious artistic vision. Musica Viva NY’s imaginative programming offers joy, solace and renewal in a complex world. Presenting a broad repertoire of new compositions and classic masterworks, Musica Viva NY emphasizes artistic excellence and transformative interpretations to ennoble the human spirit.

All Souls Church
1157 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10075
United States