Barbican HallSilk Street, London, Greater London, EC2Y 8DS, United Kingdom
Dates/times in London time zone
Programme
| Adams, John (b. 1947) | Harmonium, for chorus and orchestra | |
| Gerhard, Robert (1896-1970) | The Plague |
Performers
| Crouch End Festival Chorus | |
| Paul McGann | Narrator |
| London Orchestra da Camera | |
| David Temple | Conductor |
Based on the book by Nobel prize-winning novelist Albert Camus, and with an electrifying musical score by Roberto Gerhard, The Plague tells of the invasion of Oran, a French Algerian town, by a lethal rat-borne plague. Recorded through his own personal journal, Dr Rieux (Paul McGann - pictured) fights the plague with all the means at his disposal.
In 1963, during a period of great experimentation, Gerhard adapted Camus’ novel into a concise musical drama, with gigantic orchestra and a huge choir playing the part of the townspeople. The resulting sound is chilling.
One of the world’s greatest living composers, John Adams creates music both accessible and richly satisfying. In Harmonium he uses texts from John Donne and Emily Dickinson to create a roller-coaster soundscape shot through with love, death and sex.
In 2005, Crouch End Festival Chorus performed Harmonium in the presence of the composer, and conductor David Temple believes this work stands alongside Britten’s War Requiem as one of the finest choral works from the second half of the 20th century.
In 1963, during a period of great experimentation, Gerhard adapted Camus’ novel into a concise musical drama, with gigantic orchestra and a huge choir playing the part of the townspeople. The resulting sound is chilling.
One of the world’s greatest living composers, John Adams creates music both accessible and richly satisfying. In Harmonium he uses texts from John Donne and Emily Dickinson to create a roller-coaster soundscape shot through with love, death and sex.
In 2005, Crouch End Festival Chorus performed Harmonium in the presence of the composer, and conductor David Temple believes this work stands alongside Britten’s War Requiem as one of the finest choral works from the second half of the 20th century.
