Rutter Requiem & Stainer The Crucifixion

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Join the Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town on Saturday 4 March at 20h00 as we perform two moving choral works: Rutter’s Requiem and Stainer’s The Crucifixion.

Richard Haigh will be conducting.

Rutter’s Requiem

Written in 1985, Rutter’s Requiem is dedicated to Rutter’s Father, who died the previous year. Following the precedent established by Brahms and Fauré, among others, it is not strictly a setting of the Requiem Mass as laid down in Catholic liturgy, but is instead made up of a personal selection of texts, some taken from the Requiem Mass and some from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The seven movements that comprise the work are a sensitive exploration of life and death, lilting with a hopeful, universal understanding of grief.

Stainer's The Crucifixion

This oratorio composed by John Stainer in 1887 and written by W J Sparrow Simpson, includes 20 movements that tell the story of The Passion. It is a moving and deeply devotional work. Stainer intended the piece to be within the scope of most parish church choirs, and it includes five hymns for congregational participation. We invite you to join us in song for these.

The work is considered a masterpiece of Christian religious music that was compared in its day with Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Today almost everyone agrees that was a bit too high to rank The Crucifixion, but other oratorios cannot claim its strong evangelical emphasis.

Date: Saturday 4 March 2023

Time: 20h00

Venue: Groote Kerk

Seating: Unreserved

Works: Rutter’s Requiem and Stainer’s The Crucifixion

Conductor: Richard Haigh

Soloists:

Soprano: Elizabeth Catharina

Tenor: Willem Bester

Bass: Donal Slemon

Orchestra: Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra

Organist: Kevin Kraak

Parking options: Mandela Rhodes Place has secure, undercover parking accessible in Burg Street. Cost of R35 per entry after 18h00. It is just a short walk to Groote Kerk from the parking garage. (google maps reference : https://goo.gl/maps/SbPFrERF9YWxjZWv8 parking entrance is in Burg Street)

ABOUT THE PHILHARMONIA CHOIR OF CAPE TOWN

The Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town is one of Cape Town’s oldest and best-loved choral groups. In 2017 we celebrated our 50th anniversary! The choir was formed in 1967, and has been described as ‘the jewel in Cape Town’s musical crown.’ It comprises more than 120 amateur singers, of all ages and backgrounds, who seek to contribute to the South African musical landscape by performing a diverse and challenging repertoire of music.

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