Experience the beauty and wonder of nature in soaring song. 12th-century abbess and visionary Hildegard von Bingen’s antiphon O orzchis Ecclesia is paired with the world premiere of Pitts’ virtuosic setting of the same text, alongside jazzy selections from his oratorio-musical, Jerusalem-Yerushalayim. Considered the pinnacle of Dvořák’s songwriting, enjoy a rare opportunity to hear some of his Biblical Songs sung in their original Czech, as well as art songs by Samuel Barber and Australian composers Ross Edwards and Stuart Greenbaum. The concert comes to a rousing conclusion with two songs from Elgar’s magnificent Sea Pictures for contralto and piano.

PROGRAM

HILDEGARD – O orzchis Ecclesia
BARBER – ‘A Nun Takes the Veil’ and ‘Sure on this Shining Night’ from Four Songs, Op. 13
EDWARDS – ‘The Lost Man’ from Five Senses
PITTS – O orzchis Ecclesia (premiere) and selections from Jerusalem-Yerushalayim
DVOŘÁK – Biblical Songs, Op. 99 (1, 3 & 4)
GREENBAUM – ‘Balloon Ride’ from Three Songs of Sleep
ELGAR – ‘Sea Slumber Song’ and ‘Sabbath Morning at Sea’ from Sea Pictures, Op. 37

ARTISTS

Emma Warburton is the Leading Musician at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, a Soloist at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Melbourne, and was a 2022 Ensemble Artist with The Song Company.

Antony Pitts is a composer, performer, and conductor – from Chapel Royal treble, New College Oxford Academic and Honorary Senior Scholar, Artistic Director of The Song Company to TONUS AUSTRALIS founder.