Easter Oratorio April 10, 2009

SPICER’S EASTER MASTERPIECE MAKES ITS LONG-AWAITED AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

Nearly a decade after its first performance at England’s Lichfield Cathedral, Paul Spicer’s Easter Oratorio is set to receive its Australian premiere at another iconic building, The Sydney Opera House. Fresh from their celebrated ‘Dawn Chorus’ performances in the Sydney Festival, The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs have chosen Spicer’s beautifully orchestrated work for their Easter concert on Saturday, 11 April at 2pm.
Commissioned for the new millennium and to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach’s death and the 1300th anniversary of Lichfield Cathedral, Easter Oratorio was hailed as an instant masterpiece in the English choral tradition following its debut on 15 July, 2000.
Spicer’s response to the towering music of Bach, Walton and Finzi takes audiences on a journey of striking emotion through the story of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of a new day.
Sydney Philharmonia’s Artistic & Musical Director, Brett Weymark said he discovered Easter Oratorio more than two years ago and had been secretly longing to perform the piece with the Sydney Philharmonia ever since.
“It’s a very spiritual and illuminating work which perfectly showcases the vocal talents of each of our choir’s from Vox, our youth choir to Festival Chorus, our largest chorus of over 250 singers,” said Weymark.
Over 500 singers will bring Spicer’s epic to life at the Sydney Opera House for an Easter celebration unlike any other. To enhance the concert experience, Weymark will also lead the audience in the singing of five well-known congregational hymns.
“Coming to a concert shouldn’t be a passive experience, so at various stages of the performance, we hope to have every voice in the opera house singing as one,” said Weymark.

Official Website: http://www.sydneyphilharmonia.com.au