RKC chief conductor Justin Doyle has selected three compositions for the joint concert: James MacMillan's setting of the medieval sequence Stabat Mater, Maximilian Steinberg's "Passion Week" and the Chamber Symphony in C minor op. 110a by Dmitri Shostakovich. In his eighth string quartet, which forms the basis for this composition, Shostakovich looks back on his life musically: "I thought that after my death, no one would probably compose a work in my memory. So I decided to compose such a work myself."

EPSG:4326

RIAS Chamber Choir & Ensemble Resonanz

Berliner Philharmonie

Haydn's composition is characterised by a dramatic, extremely moving emotionality that is hard to resist. It was initially conceived as a purely instrumental composition - meditation music in seven slow movements with a prelude and final movement („Il Terremoto“ - the earthquake) for a Passion service. However, when Haydn heard an arrangement of his work with a German text in Passau in 1794, he was inspired to write his own vocal version. The premiere took place in Vienna in 1796. With the flourishing of choral societies in the 19th century, this vocal version of the Seven Words became one of the most frequently performed pieces of Passion music ever.

Justin Doyle

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 21, 2025

RIAS Chamber Choir & Ensemble Resonanz · Ensemble Resonanz

Apr 18, 2025

Good Friday concert · Konzerthausorchester Berlin

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in String Quartet No. 8 by Shostakovich

Ensemble Resonanz

Conductor in The Seven Last Words of Christ by Haydn

Konzerthausorchester Berlin

Conductor in Passion Week by Steinberg

Ensemble Resonanz

Conductor in Mother was standing by MacMillan

Ensemble Resonanz

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