Wrath and repose – Mozart and Lauridsen before Easter

Be prepared to face Heaven and Hell on Saturday April 9th at 7 pm and Sunday April 10th at 3 pm when the Choir of Christ Church St Laurence presents Mozart’s apocalyptic “Requiem” and Morton Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna”, at their resident venue, Christ Church St Laurence, George Street, Railway Square. The choir of just 40 singers, will be joined by soprano Nicole Thomson, alto Amanda Wagg, tenor Richard Butler and bass Alexander Knight, with the orchestra of St Laurence, drawn from the ranks of the Sydney Symphony and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras. Directing them is Dr Neil McEwen,

Lovers of choral music in Sydney are never disappointed by the integrity of repertoire and performance presented by this ensemble, which in August will celebrate a record a 32 years of performing orchestral masses in Sydney.

Whilst Mozart’s “Requiem” confronts and challenges with repressed fears of judgement and the unknown, Lauridsen’s motet is more calming and forgiving. It is unmistakeably Lauridsen, but with a nod to plainchant – and a hint of Elgar’s Lux Aeterna. Performances of Mozart’s “Requiem” come around often enough. This is a rare opportunity to hear this gem by Lauridsen, performed by one of Sydney’s best choirs.

Dr McEwen says: “Our performance at Christ Church St. Laurence will use the usual Süssmayr orchestration for the sections not written by Mozart. The Lauridsen is a good contrast to the Mozart, as it is perhaps less dramatic and more mellifluous in its Gregorian chant vocal and instrumental lines. However, some of the beauty of the Lauridsen is the atmospheric ambiance it creates in its choral forces, harmonic structure and orchestration.”