DAVID LANG
The Little Match Girl Passion
AND MORE
In celebration of the partial reopening of Denmark's live cultural life, we have looked a little ahead in the calendar and are presenting two short, informal concerts on May 26 and June 2 of some the works that we will continue to work on at the Theater of Voice's new summer festival in Holbæk and on the opening weekend of the Venice Biennale in September.
‘The Little Match Girl Passion’ was commissioned for the Theater of Voices by Carnegie Hall. The work won a Pulitzer Prize and the group's recording won a Grammy Award in 2010.
David Lang's work, which we are performing in full length, is to text by H.C. Andersen (The Little Girl with the Sulfur Sticks) and the Gospel of Matthew. It focus on neglect, abuse, and sacrifice of a child - the girl/savior - as well as time. When do we pass a suffering soul? When do we leave and when do we help?
The music, in all its gripping simplicity, is a beautiful setting for eternal existential discussions.
It is filled with both pain and great sweetness. A completely unique work for four singers who play percussion and sing.
David Bendix Nielsen, organ
Matthias Friis Hansen, percussion
Rihab Azar, oud
Theatre of Voices
-Else Torp
-Signe Asmussen
-Paul Bentley-Angell
-Ben McKee
Paul Hillier, artistic director