The spirit of Easter, although subtle, permeates this concert, with Harry Bicket returning to the helm of 麻豆社 National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales. Brazilian composer Jos茅 Maur铆cio Nunes Garcia kicks off the evening with his Zemira Overture, and sublime baritone Julien Van Mellaerts performs Bach鈥檚 Ich habe genug. With text recounting the purification of Mary, and pronouncing the desires of escaping earthly misery to be reunited with Jesus this work is a perfect fit for any Easter concert.
It is perhaps little know that Haydn鈥檚 Symphony No. 26 was in fact written for Easter, although when we look deeper into the music there are plentiful less-than-subtle hints. Written in typical Sturm and drang 鈥� storm and stress 鈥� the minor key and thundery atmosphere underpin Passiontide plainsong quotations, more pertinent for a church than the concert hall. Also written for Easter is Vaughan Williams鈥� Five Mystical Songs, which sets four texts from 鈥楾he Temple: Sacred Poems鈥� by Welsh poet and priest George Herbert. Intrinsically spiritual and direct in delivery, the five movements contrast from quiet and meditative to triumphant shouts of praise.
