STABAT MATER 2014: Spirit, Strength & Sorrow

Thursday, 19 June 2014

On Wednesday 4 June 2014, Harry Christophers and The Sixteen performed two concerts in one day each premiering three new Stabat Maters commissions by the Genesis Foundation from three leading composers working across Europe today; Alissa Firsova, Tõnu Kõrvits and Matthew Martin. The first was a free lunchtime concert at LSO St Luke’s to a capacity audience;  the second a private evening concert for 250 guests held in the Raphael Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Genesis Foundation hosted a post-concert reception in the beautiful surroundings of the Hintze Gallery. The commissions were performed alongside music by Renaissance master William Byrd and readings of poems by William Blake. On the day over 700 people enjoyed the concerts including a capacity audience at LSO St Luke’s.

Watch the short film below to find out more about this special project:

 

Ahead of the premieres, John Studzinski talked to BBC Radio 4 Sunday presenter Ed Stourton about the Stabat Mater commissions and explained why this ancient text merits a modern day revival. Listen to the full interview below (from 32’07):

The three new commissions were released on The Sixteen’s own label, CORO, in November 2014. These new works are accompanied on the album by plainsong chant, and Renaissance and Baroque settings of the Stabat Mater by Claudio Casciolini and Domenico Scarlatti performed by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen.

Listen to the NPR piece, including interviews with the composers and audio samples, here.

For more information on Alissa Firsova, Tõnu Kõrvits and Matthew Martin and their Genesis Foundation commissions, please visit the commissions page.