Would you like to enjoy an Easter full of music?
Here are four musical highlights for the Easter Holiday. Serene and striking music that embraces life and longing, death and love.
Suggested listening order:
Maundy Thursday: Bent Sørensen: St. Matthew's Passion
Good Friday: Johann Sebastian Bach: St. John's Passion
Holy Saturday: Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Easter Sunday: Arnold Schönberg: Friede auf Erden
Feel free to read more about the music below
A special thanks to NRK for letting us share the recordings, to Bergen International Festival, and the excellent musicians with whom perform this music.
Arnold Schönberg: Friede auf Erden
Listen to the concert recording from Bergen International Festival 2014
Arnold Schönberg’s powerful Friede auf Erden («Piece on earth»).
The work was first written only for choir, but later in 1911 Schönberg added instruments. The text is written by the poet Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, and made a lasting impression on Schönberg who believed that a universal peace could be achieved.
With The Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and conductor Grete Pedersen.
Harmonically, the piece is in the late romantic style, but written at time when he was a about to make the leap into a more expressionist harmonic language.
Sound recording: NRK.
Bent Sørensen: St. Matthews Passion
Watch the concert here (available in the Nordic countries)
A brand new passion from the renowned Danish composer Bent Sørensen commissioned for the Oslo International Church Music Festival’s 20th anniversary in 2020.
– This is an extraordinary piece of music – a highlight of the year, Maren Ørstavik for Aftenposten, 29th of March
The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Ensemble Allegria and concertmaster Maria Angelica Karlsen, conductor Grete Pedersen. Soloists: Ditte Marie Bræin, Mari Askvik, Øystein Stensheim og Halvor F. Melien.
Johann Sebastian Bach: St. John's Passion
Listen to the concert recording from Bergen International Festival 2009
On Good Friday we recommend one of J. S. Bach’s most treasured works: St. John’s Passion.
This is a concert recording from the 2009 Bergen International Festival, where The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir performed the piece with distinguished soloists, Barokksolistene, and concertmaster Bjarte Eike. Conductor Grete Pedersen.
Soloists: Christoph Prégardien (evangelist); Christina Landshammer, (soprano); Ingeborg Danz (alto); Finnur Bjarnasón (tenor); Dietrich Henschel (Jesus); Haavard Stensvold (bass); Halvor Festervoll Melien (Pilatus).
Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Watch the concert recording from Universitetets aula 2009
Brahms' great masterpiece for choir, soloists and orchestra consists of great dramatic power yet at the same time is intimately touching. The first version of the piece was premiered in Vienna in 1867. The reactions were mixed, but this nevertheless marked the start of much greater interest in Brahms.
Since the end of the 1860s the work has been a continuous audience success. It is a work that grows in depth and richness the better you know it.
Performed by The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Ensemble Allegria, The Norwegian Wind Ensemble and concertmaster Maria Angelica Karlsen, soloists Camilla Tilling (soprano) and Markus Eiche (baryton), and conductor Grete Pedersen.