THESACREDVEIL ERICWHITACRE CONDUCTS
CONTENTS Tapaniteminthelisttojumptothatsection Taplowerrightcornertoreturntothispage TheProgram3 AcknowledgementofCountry4 Welcome 5 AbouttheMusic7 AbouttheCreators8 TextsandTranslations11 AbouttheArtists16 VOX19 OurSupportersandPartners20 AboutUs22 NextattheSydneyOperaHouse23ERICWHITACREATWORK(PHOTO:MARCROYCE)
JuliaLawrenceSilvestriandEricWhitacre EricWhitacre conductor ElizabethScott conductor(TarimiNulay)andchorusmaster JulianSmiles cello ClaireHowardRace piano VOX withmembersofChamberSingers Saturday17September2022at8pm SydneyOperaHouseConcertHall †Commissionedfor100MinutesofNewAustralianMusic2020 *Sydneypremiere Theperformancewillrunforapproximately80minuteswithoutinterval. TheSacredVeil wascommissionedbytheLosAngelesMasterChorale (GrantGershon,ArtisticDirector), MonashAcademyofPerformingArts(MLIVE),andNTRZaterdagMatineefortheNetherlandsRadioChoir. Thisperformanceof TheSacredVeil byEricWhitacreisgivenbypermissionofHalLeonardAustraliaPtyLtd, exclusiveagentforBoosey&HawkesMusicPublishersLtdofLondon
Sainte-Chapelle
TheSacredVeil
TextbyEdwardEsch,translatedbyCharlesAnthonySilvestri
LuxAurumque(LightandGold)
TextsbyCharlesAnthonySilvestri,
*
ERICWHITACRE
TextbyCharlesAnthonySilvestri
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·3 SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRSPRESENTS THESACREDVEIL ERICWHITACRE CONDUCTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTOFCOUNTRY DEBORAHCHEETHAM and MATTHEWDOYLE TarimiNulay–Longtimelivinghere†
With TarimiNulay,DeborahCheetham (musicandwords)andMatthewDoyle (thetranslationintoGadigal)havecreated aworkthatexploresaprofoundcultural andspiritualreflectionofthelandon whichwesing.
PHOTO:KRISTINAKINGSTON
TARIMINULAY–LONGTIMELIVINGHERE
DeborahCheethamandMatthewDoyle
Tarimi Nulay–Longtimelivinghere was commissionedforourcentenaryyear (2020)asachoralAcknowledgementof Countrytocommenceourconcerts.
TarimiNulay waspremieredintheDawn Chorusperformanceonthestepsofthe SydneyOperaHouseatthebeginningof 2020andhasbeenheardinperformances wehavegivensincethen.Ithasbeen programmedtobegineachconcertinour 2022seasonandwehopethisspecial piecewillbepartofSydneyPhilharmonia performancesformanyyearstocome.
DeborahCheetham AO –YortaYorta, soprano,composerandeducator–has beenaleaderintheAustralianarts landscapeformorethan25years.In2009 sheestablishedShortBlackOpera,devoted tothedevelopmentofIndigenoussingers. In2010sheproduced PecanSummer, Australia’sfirstIndigenousopera.In2014 shewasnamedanOfficeroftheOrderof Australia,for‘distinguishedservicetothe performingartsasanoperasinger,composer andartisticdirector,tothedevelopmentof Indigenousartists,andtoinnovationin performance’.Hercommissionsincludethe majorchoral-orchestralwork Eumeralla–A WarRequiemforPeace (2019).
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·4
Weacknowledgeandpayrespecttothe GadigalpeopleoftheEoraNation,upon whoseCountrywerehearse,singandwork, andpayourrespectstotheirElderspastand present.Ourvoicesbringtolifethesongsof manyculturesandcountries,fromacrossthe ages,inaspiritofsharing,learningand understanding.Theancientcustomsand culturesofthislandinspireustocreate harmony–inmusicandoursociety.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTOFCOUNTRY
Ibelievethisworkwillbeonethat resonateswithallofusforalongtimeto comeandSydneyPhilharmoniaChoirsis proudtopresentthisworktoyou.
Tonight’sperformanceputsthechoir frontandcentre.Accompaniedbyjust pianoandsolocello,VOXwillleadus throughacatharticjourney–attimes confrontingbutultimatelyconsoling.Partof thesignificanceandappealofthisworkis that,whilemanyofushavehadthe experienceofwatchingsomeonewelove dealwiththeawfulrealityofcancer, classicalmusicasagenrehasrarelytaken onthesubject.Itisthroughcollective
Itiswithgreatjoythatwewelcome AmericancomposerandconductorEric WhitacrebacktoSydneyPhilharmonia Choirs.Wehavesuchfondmemoriesofhis previousappearancehereintheSydney OperaHousein2013.Now,withanewly mintedandmuch-improvedacoustic,the ConcertHalliswitnesstotheSydney premiereofoneofhismostimportant workstodate, TheSacredVeil
BrettWeymark OAM ArtisticandMusicDirector
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·5
WELCOME
PHOTO:KEITHSAUNDERS
IfirstcaughtwindofthefactthatEric wasplanningamajorworkwithhisfriend CharlesAnthonySilvestriaroundtheendof 2018,andIwassointriguedandinterested inpresentingitinSydneythatIflewtoLos AngelestohearthepremiereintheWalt DisneyConcertHall.Itwasanincredible performanceandIknewitwastheright worktoaskErictocomebackandconduct inour2022season.Itchartsastoryof friendship,love,loss,resilience,meaning anddespairinawaythatonlychoralmusic can,withitswonderfulsynthesisofwords, melodyand,aboveall,harmony.
artisticexperiencessuchasthisconcert thatIfeelwecanbegintohealsomeofthe woundsofthatexperience–notonlyby confrontingthembutbyreflectingontheir meaning.
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·6INTERIOROFSAINTE-CHAPELLE(PHOTO:MELVIL)
LUXAURUMQUE
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·7
Perhapsmorethananyother, LuxAurumque (LightandGold) istheworkmostclosely associatedwithEricWhitacreandhischoral style.Itowesitsfameinparttoitsuseinthe first‘chapter’ofhisVirtualChoirin2010. Whitacrehadplayedwiththeideaofsingers fromallpartsoftheworldcomingtogether viathewebbefore,butwith LuxAurumque hepushedtheconcepttothenextlevel.He didn’tjustwanttoseeifsingerscouldrecord theirpartsseparatelyandcutthemtogether–hewantedtoseeif‘wecouldactuallymake music’.Theydid,andtheonlineproject achievedmorethanamillionhitsinjusttwo months.
SACREDLIGHT
Theresultwasextraordinarilymovingand thefirsttimeWhitacresawthecompleted videohetearedupattheobviouspoetic symbolismofsharedhumanityandourneed toconnect.Littlecouldanyonehaveguessed that12yearslatervirtualmusic-makingwould, foratime,becomeanecessity.
For LuxAurumque (2001)Whitacrehad chosenapoemof‘genuine,elegant simplicity’byEdwardEsch–apoethe describesas‘arecluse,inthetruestsenseof theword…bornsometimeintheearly’70s, butrarelymakingapublicappearance’.Inan unusualmove,hehadittranslatedfrom EnglishtoLatinbeforesettingit,turningtohis goodfriendandcollaborator,theAmerican poetCharlesAnthonySilvestri.‘Asimple approachwasessentialtothesuccessofthe work,’Whitacresays,andheaimedforsimple ‘breathing’gestures,waitingpatientlyforthe harmoniestoshimmerandglow.
ERICWHITACRE isamongtoday’smostpopular musicians.Hisworksareprogrammedworldwide andhisground-breakingVirtualChoirshaveunited 100,000singersfrommorethan145countries.
CHARLESANTHONYSILVESTRI specialisesin writingbespoketextsforchoralcomposers,witha particularemphasisontextsinLatin,bothsacred andsecular.Heenjoysthecreativechallengesand rewardsofthecollaborativeprocess,andhas workedwithcomposerssuchasEricWhitacre,Ola Gjeilo,KimArnesenandDanForrest,aswellasfor organisationssuchasHoustonGrandOpera,the King’sSingers,SanFranciscoGayMen’sChorus, andWestminsterAbbey.
Heistheauthorofthreebooks,including ASilver Thread,aretrospectiveofhislyricpoetry,andhis poemsforEricWhitacre’s Sleep and Leonardo DreamsofHisFlyingMachine havebeenpublished aschildren’sbooks.
HeteachesAncientandMediævalHistoryat WashburnUniversity,Kansas.Heisalsoanartist, specialisinginreplicatingmediævalmanuscript illuminationsandrecreatingthetechniquesand materialsofGothicandRenaissancepaintersand iconographers.
Hiscompositionshavebeenwidelyrecordedand hisdebutalbum, LightandGold,toppedthecharts, earninghimaGrammyAwardin2012.More recently,hiscompositionforsymphonyorchestra andchorus, DeepField,inspiredbytheHubble SpaceTelescope,becamethefoundationforafilm collaborationledbyNASA. TheSacredVeil was premieredbytheLosAngelesMasterChorale,and anewversionwithfullstringorchestrawillbe premieredinOctober.Earlierthisyear,the CincinnatiPopsgavethepremiereofanewwork, PreludeinC,co-commissionedwiththeNational SymphonyOrchestra.
HeisVisitingComposeratPembrokeCollegeat CambridgeUniversityandrecentlycompletedhis secondtermasArtistinResidencewiththeLos AngelesMasterChorale.
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·8
PHOTO:MARCROYCE
Asaclinician,hespeakstochoirs,classesand concertaudiencesabouthisworks,thecreative processandthemarriageofwordsandmusic,as wellashiscollaborativerelationshipswith composers,andhasgivenpresentationsatthe LincolnCenter,KennedyCenter,DisneyHall,and universitiesandschoolsthroughouttheUS.
ABOUTTHECREATORS
BorninNevadain1970,hedreamedofbeinga rockstar.Butitwashisfirstchoirrehearsal,at university,thatchangedhislife.Hefamouslysaid: ‘…suddenlyeverythingwasinshockingTechnicolor. ItwasthemosttransformativeexperienceI’veever had–inthatsinglemoment,hearingdissonance andharmony,andpeoplesinging…’Hewentonto studycomposition,earningamaster’sdegreefrom theJuilliardSchoolofMusic.
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·9
TheSacredVeil isa12-movementwork–dedicatedtoTony’slatewifeJulia LawrenceSilvestri(Julie)–whichincludes textswrittenbySilvestri,WhitacreandJulie herself,capturingthehumanexperience throughastoryofloveandloss.
‘Wheneverthereisbirthordeath’arethe firstwordsofthepoemthatSilvestri broughttoWhitacre,whichthecomposer readoverandoverbeforeimmediately sittingatthepianoandwritingmusic.Eric decidedtocentrethisentireworkon Silvestri’sideaofa‘veil’thatseparatesthe worldofthelivingandthosewhohave passed.Thisfirstpoem, The VeilOpens,becamethefirst movementofthelarger work.
Sainte-Chapelle wascommissionedby PeterPhillips,directorofTheTallis Scholars,fortheensemble’s40th anniversaryin2013.Ataroundthetimeof theinvitation,EricWhitacrevisitedParis wherehewascaptivatedinparticularby thesheerbeautyofSainte-Chapelle,the ‘holychapel’builtbyLouisIXofFranceto holdtheroyalcollectionofreligiousrelics, includingChrist’sCrownofThorns.
TheGothicchapelsurvivesasa mesmerisingexampleof13th-century stainedglass–thevastwindowsreachto thevaultedceiling,leading‘relentlessly’,as Whitacredescribesit,toanintricaterose windowdepictingtheapocalypseof StJohn.
Therosewindowof Sainte-Chapelle,Paris
SAINTE-CHAPELLE
Onceagain,heturnedtoSilvestri,who craftedatextthattellsthestoryofan innocentyounggirl,hearingangelsinthe stainedglassgentlysingingtheSanctus text:‘Holy,holy,holy.’Themusicbegins withthemen’svoicessingingmusicina styleevokingGregorianchant;thewomen enterwiththefirst‘whispered’Sanctus.
Whitacrestates:‘Iknew thatIwouldrepeattexts andphrasesthreetimes everytimeIwantedto meditateonanidea,to “formalise”thepoetryandto createasenseofstasisin themusic.Idecidedearly onthatthe“veil”wouldbe representedbymiddleC (thethirdletterofthe alphabet),andthatmoments
PHOTO:FRLAWRENCELEW,OP
THESACREDVEIL
In2016,afteravisitfromhisclosestfriend andlongtimecollaborator–lyricist,poet andhistorianCharlesAnthonySilvestri (Tony)–composerEricWhitacrefounda poemthatTonyhadleftforhimsittingon hispiano.Tonyhadlosthiswifetocancer 12yearspreviously,losinghissoulmateand leavinghimtobringuptheirtwoyoung children.Hehadn’tfeltabletotalkabout herlossbut,encouragedbyEric,hestarted tosharehisexperiencethroughpoetry.
PHOTO:KEITHSAUNDERS
DONATENOW There’sexcitementintheairaswereconnect witheachother,ouraudiences,ourfellow choristersandinstrumentalists.Withtherecent improvementstotheConcertHall,wecanlook forwardtoaneweraofmakingandenjoying musicinthisamazingspace. Ouraimistoreplacethelostincomeofthepast twoyearsbypresentingliveconcerts.Butbox officeincomealoneisnotenoughtosustain ourcompany.Weneedyourhelptodriveour effortsfurther. Pleaseconsideratax-deductiblegifttoSydney PhilharmoniaChoirs.Yourgiftwillhelpto sustainourcompanyaswelooktoabright music-filledfuture. ScantheQRcode,visit sydneyphilharmonia.com.au/donate orcall(02)82746200tomake yourdonationtoday. Giftsover$2arefullytax-deductible.
Latinsingingtranslationby CharlesAnthonySilvestri
Light, warmandheavyaspuregold andangelssingsoftly tothenewbornbabe. EdwardEsch(born1970)
Thethirdmovement, Home,centres aroundthemomentSilvestriknewhewas inlovewithJulie.‘Hesaidheremembered lookingatherwhileshewastalkingand thatasinglethoughtfilledhismindashe watchedherspeaking:“Youfeellike home.”WhenhetoldmethatIsaid,“That’s it,”knowingthatwasallthepoetrywe neededforthismovement.’
Following TheVeilOpens,thepairwrote whatwouldbecomethepenultimate movement, YouRise,IFall.‘BeforeIhada noteofmusicwritten,’saysWhitacre,‘I jotteddownthewords“Yourise,Ifall”,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTOFCOUNTRY CHEETHAM&DOYLETarimiNulay–Longtimelivinghere
TEXTSANDTRANSLATIONS
orevenentiremovementswould“cross” theveil,oftentimesupathirdordowna third.AndIknewthatJulie’sthemewould bebasedonthreenotesstartingonmiddle C,movingupathirdtoEflat,thenback downagaintoC.’
TheSacredVeil allowsthelistenerspace togrieveandacknowledgesthatitisokay todoso.‘Weallhavepain,’saysSilvestri. ‘Weallhaveexperiencedloss.Wealllong forcatharsisandclosure,evenaswe grieve.’
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·11
Lux, Caldagravisquepuravelutaurum Etcanuntangelimolliter modonatum.
Tariminulayngalawayura garrabarrabarayayagubarrabugu ngyiningingara ngyiningiberong
thinkingthatitperfectlyencapsulatedthe culminationofTonyandJulie’sjourney together.’
Longtimeherelivethepeople dancingandsingingtodayandtomorrow, yourwayofknowing yourwayofbelonging
TranslatedintoGadigalbyMatthewDoyle
WhitacreandSilvestricraftedastructure for TheSacredVeil thatfollowsthejourney ofasoulacrossthethresholdbetween finitudeandeternityintoand,ultimately, outofthislife.Itfollowsthetrajectoryof TonyandJulie’sstoryfrombeginningto end.Thetwohalvesofthepiecebridgethe gapbetween‘before’and‘after’learning thatJuliewasdiagnosedwithcancer.
WHITACRELuxAurumque(LightandGold)
WHITACRESainte-Chapelle
Molliterangelicantaverunt, “DominusDeussabaoth, Plenisuntcoelietterra Gloriatua!”
Aninnocentgirl Enteredthechapel Andtheangelsintheglass Softlysang, “Hosannainthehighest!” Theinnocentgirl Whispered, “Holy!Holy!Holy!” Lightfilledthechamber, Many-colouredlight; Sheheardhervoice Echo, “Holy!Holy!Holy!” Softlytheangelssang, “LordGodofHosts, Heavenandeartharefull Ofyourglory!”
Aninnocentgirl Enteredthechapel Andtheangelsintheglass Softlysang.
Virgocastissima Advenitincapellam; Etangeliinvitro Mollitercantaverunt, “Hosannainexcelsis!” Illacastissima Susurravit, “Sanctus!Sanctus!Sanctus!” Luximplevitspatium, Multiformiscolore; Etaudivitvocemsuam Resonare, “Sanctus!Sanctus!Sanctus!”
Virgocastissima Advenitincapellam; Etangeliinvitro Mollitercantaverunt.
CharlesAnthonySilvestri
“Hosannainexcelsis!” “Hosannainexcelsis!” Voxinlumensetransformat, Etlumencanit, “Sanctus!Sanctus!Sanctus!” Lumencanitmolliter, “DominusDeussabaoth, Plenisuntcoelietterra Gloriatua!”
“Hosannahinthehighest!” “Hosannahinthehighest!” Hervoicebecomeslight, Andthelightsings, “Holy!Holy!Holy!” Thelightsingssoftly, “LordGodofHosts, Heavenandeartharefull Ofyourglory!”
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·12
4.MagneticPoetry–
Hewouldoftenwonder,“Who Couldloveadreamersuchasyou?” Andsohetrustednoone’sshadow buthisown.
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·13
Inadarkanddistantyear, Awand’rerancientandaustere, Hesurroundshimselfwithbooks he’sneverread.
Hewasafoolthen,andhewasallalone. Thenquitetohissurprise, Passingtherebeforehiseyes, Agirlunlikely,gentlylaughing bytheshore. Shehadunlockedhisheartand lethisspiritsoar!
Theboywasboldenoughtosay, “Come,holdmydeepestsecretshere amongthefoam; Youaretheworldtome,andyou… youfeellikehome.”
Sleep-swimmingthroughsweatysummer Dreammists
Irecallourgorgeousmomentstogether Beneathmyheavingpeachskin Essentialyou
5.WheneverThereisBirth–CELLO,PIANOANDWORDLESSVOICES
Hewasachildthen,theworld insidehishead.
2.InaDarkandDistantYear–
Andonthatgolden,hopefulday
Egg-achewhispersurging
Moonwindchantinglikesweet languidhoney
Youfeellikehome. CharlesAnthonySilvestri
Wheneverthereisbirthordeath, Thesacredveilbetweentheworlds Growsthinandopensslightlyup, JustlongenoughforLovetoslip, Silent,eitherinorout Ofthisourfragile,fleetingworld, Whenceorwhitheranewhomewaits. Andourbelovedonesdrawnear, Inraptanticipation,or Inwearygratitude,theystand; Ourlovedonesstandsoclose,righthere, Justontheotherside OfEternity.
3.Home–
Notyetamother
Thedeliriousgirl Womangoddess
CharlesAnthonySilvestri
Butthespringlifeforceissonear Whatabaresymphonyhere
CharlesAnthonySilvestri
Theenormousneed
Likesomediamondgiftincubating Inlove
JuliaLawrenceSilvestri
WHITACRETheSacredVeil
1.TheVeilOpens–
JuliaLawrenceSilvestri
I’mafraidwefoundsomething...
I’mafraidwe’vefoundsomething... […exploratorylaparotomyandexcisionof bilateralovariandermoids…]
[Fifteencentimeterretroperitonealcystic masswithcomplexinternalseptation... Thepatientisatwenty-eight-year-oldwhite female,primagravida,inthethirdtrimester ofpregnancy.]
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·14
Myhairstartedtofalloutatprecisely1:00 onmybirthday.
ByThursdayitwasmakingaterriblemess, sothekidshelpedmeshaveoffwhatever wasleft.They’dpickupmyhairfromthe groundandslapitonmyheadandsay, “Youneedmorehair!”andtheywould laughandlaugh.ThenatbathtimeIwore mywig,andtheywouldbegmetotakeit offandputitbackonagain–theyhowled withlaughter.
8.DeliciousTimes
7.IAmHere–CELLOANDPIANO
Inadarkanddistantyear Thewand’rerweary,fulloffear, Confrontsafatedforcemorepowerful thanlife–
I’mafraidwe’vefoundsomething... […uterus,tubes,sacralpain…ovaries… recurrent,recurrent,recurrent…]
I’mafraidwe’vefoundsomething... […twoleftadnexalcystsanda septatedrightadnexalcyst…]
[Exploratorylaparotomy, totalabdominalhysterectomy, bilateralsalpingo-oophorectomy, paraaorticlymphadenectomy Bonescansinsacrum,leftilium,right acetabulum metastasis... metastasis… metastasis…]
I’mafraidwefoundsomething... [PathologyconfirmsgradesI,II,andIII mucinouscysticadenocarcinomawith focalcarcinosarcomaconsistentwith ovarianprimary.Recommendsixcycles TaxolandCarboplatin...]
6.I’mafraid–
TodayIvisitedmyoldestatschoolandhe shouted,“Heyeverybody!Mymomhasa wig!”Hewasthestaroftheclassasallthe kindergartenstared,open-mouthed,in wonderment.It’sbeenaveryfunnyweek. Thekidshavebeenamazing,andwe’ve hadsomereallydelicioustimestogether.
CharlesAnthonySilvestri
9.OneLastBreath–
Atbedtime,whenmylittleoneplayswith myhair,shejuststrokedmyheadand said,“It’ssosoftandclean!”Shesays, “Mommy,yourhairwentbye-byebutit’llbe backsoon!”Iwasmostworriedabouther becauseshelovesmyhairsomuch,but sheisjustfine!
Acarriagemadeofsea Hascometotakehiswife.
I’mafraidwefoundsomething... I’mafraidwefoundsomething... I’mafraid.
“Pleasedon’tletgoofme Foryou,youaremyhome!”
CharlesAnthonySilvestri
Timetoendyourvoyage Timetodie. Silentslumbercallsyou Darkanddeep Childofsoftsurrender Childofsleep Childofsorrow Childofrain Thereisnotomorrow Nomorepain. Turnyoursilveredsail Towardthelight Childofmourning Childofnight. Childofiridescence Childofdream Starsandmoonswillguideyou Downthestream. Stretchedonoceanwaves Ofendlessfoam Welcomehomemychild Welcomehome.
11.YouRise,IFall
JuliaLawrenceSilvestri
Listeningtoyourlaboredbreath, Yourstruggleendsasminebegins. Yourise;Ifall.
10.DearFriends–
Iamnowaskingyoutoprayasyouhave neverprayedbefore.Pleasedon’tpray thatIwillhaveapeacefuldeath.Please don’tfeelpityforme.Justprayhard.Pray thatIwillbehealedinamiraculous, supernaturalway.PraythatGodwillgive mewisdomastowhattodonext.Fight withme,don’tgiveuponme.
Dearfriends:tonightIfeelthatImustask youtopray.
12.ChildofWonder Childofwonder Childofsky
EricWhitacre
EricWhitacre
Fromtheshoreheseeshisbride Asshefightshardagainstthetide. Heswearsasacredvowthatevery lovedonekeeps. Hesteelshimself, Takesonelastbreath,andleaps.
Broken,withaheavyhand Ireachtoyou,andcloseyoureyes. Yourise;Ifall.
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·15
Thewavestoodarkanddeeptoswim, Hehearshislovecryouttohim, Herpiercinganguishrisinghigh abovethefoam.
IjustgotoutofthehospitaltonightandI receivedsomebadnews.Thescan showedthatIhadnumerousliverand peritonealmetastases.Mydoctorsaidthis meantImostlikelyhadabouttwomonths tolive.
Fading,yetalreadygone; WhatcallsyouIcannotprovide. Yourise;Ifall.
EricWhitacremakesawelcomereturnto SydneyPhilharmoniaChoirs,having conductedSymphonyChorusandVOXinthe SydneyOperaHousein2013.
RecentSPCperformance highlightsinclude Mozart:RequiemandRevelations, Bach’s MassinBminor; BerlinerMesse, StJohn PassionReimagined and Considering MatthewShepard.
PHOTO:MARCROYCE
ElizabethScottisaregularchorusmaster fortheSydneySymphonyOrchestraandalso workswithCantillationandGondwanaChoirs.
EricWhitacrecreatedhisfirstVirtualChoirs projectasanexperimentinsocialmediaand digitaltechnology. VirtualChoir1:Lux Aurumque waspublishedin2010and featured185singersfrom12countries.Ten yearson,in2020, VirtualChoir6:SingGently featured17,562singersfrom129countries.To date,theVirtualChoirshaveregisteredmore than60millionviews.
HestudiedchoralconductingwithDavid Weiller,anearlyandimportantinspirationin hiscareer.Hisdebutalbumasaconductor, LightandGold,earnedhimaGrammy,andas aguestconductor,hehasdrawncapacity audiencestoconcertswithmanyofthe world’sleadingorchestrasandchoirs, appearinginvenuesfromCarnegieHalland WaltDisneyConcertHalltotheRoyalAlbert HallandBuckinghamPalace.Hehasworked withHollywoodcomposersHansZimmer, JohnPowellandJeffBeal,aswellasBritish popiconsLauraMvula,ImogenHeapand AnnieLennox.
ElizabethScott hasledSydneyPhilharmonia Choirs’youngadultchoirVOXtogreat successsince2008.PreviouslySydney Philharmonia’sAssistantChorusMaster (2006–2008)andActingMusicDirector (2013),sheisalsocurrentlytheMusic PerformanceProjectsOfficer(Secondary ChoralMusic/InstrumentalMusic)fortheArts UnitwithintheNSWDepartmentof Education,andsince2009hasbeenthe ChoralConductorfortheDepartment’sSchools Spectacular.Shewasrecentlyappointed LecturerinChoralConductingattheSydney ConservatoriumofMusic.
EricWhitacre conductor
ABOUTTHEARTISTS
AftergraduatingfromtheSydney ConservatoriumofMusic,shecompleted postgraduatestudiesinchoralconducting, vocalperformanceandauraltrainingin HungaryandGermany,andholdsaDoctorate ofMusicalArtsinChoralConducting.She wasaparticipantinSymphony Australia’s ConductorDevelopmentProgram andreceived the2008SydneyChoralSymposium FoundationChoralConductingScholarship.
ElizabethScott conductor
PHOTO:KEITHSAUNDERS
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·16
HeiscurrentlyVisitingComposerat PembrokeCollege,CambridgeUniversity, andrecentlycompletedhissecondtermas ArtistinResidencewiththeLosAngeles MasterChorale.
PHOTO:KURTSNEDDON
ClaireHowardRace piano
ClaireHowardRacehasperformedtoacclaim insongrecitalswithartistssuchasDeborah Humble,Mariana(HyeSeoung)Kwonand GhillianSullivan.From2017to2021sheheld thepositionofAssistantChorusMasterand PrincipalRehearsalPianistforSydney PhilharmoniaChoirs,andlastyearperformed inthetwopianosandpercussionversionof CarminaBurana.In2021shealsoperformed intheGraftonChamberMusicFestivalwith theSiriusChamberEnsemble,andinthe premiereperformancesoftheopera, Chop Chef,byAustraliancomposerPaulSmith,with theBlushOperaCompany.Otherrecent performancesincludeOlaGjeilo’s Luminous NightoftheSoul withSydneyPhilharmonia ChoirsfortheSydneyFestival,andthefourhandpianoarrangementofBrahms’s Ein deutschesRequiem atChristChurch CathedralfortheNewcastleMusicFestival.
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·17
AscellistoftheGoldnerStringQuartetand theAustraliaEnsembleatUNSW,hehas performedtocriticalacclaimatmajorvenues andfestivalsthroughouttheworld,madeover 30recordingsonleadinglabels,and premieredmanyworksbyAustralianand internationalcomposers.Heisindemandas ateacherandchambermusicmentor,andis SeniorLecturerinCelloattheSydney ConservatoriumofMusic.
JulianSmilesenjoysadiversemusicalcareer, combiningsolo,chamberandorchestral performance,andreachingnationaland internationalaudiences.Activeasasoloist,he hasperformedconcertoswithorchestrasand appearedasarecitalistandguestchamber musicianthroughoutAustralia.
JulianSmiles cello
CHRISTMAS CHOIR2022 SINGWITHUSTHISCHRISTMAS! Christmasisatimeforsingingand celebration,andwedoitinstyleatSydney PhilharmoniaChoirs.Thisyearwe’llperform Handel’sMessiahinthenewlyrefurbished ConcertHallattheSydneyOperaHouse. AsamemberofourChristmasChoir,you’ll bejoinedonstagebyourauditionedchoirs, guestsoloistsandaprofessionalorchestra, ledbyconductorBrettWeymarkoam. MakethisChristmasunforgettablewith yourliveperformancesinthe SydneyOperaHouse! ScantheQRcodeformore informationandtoregister Concertinformation: sydneyphilharmonia.com.au/messiah Lastdaytoorderyour Messiahscore(ifneeded) Monday19September Lastdaytoregister Monday31October PHOTO:KEITHSAUNDERS SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·18
IsabellaRahme
MichaelGray* StevenHankey* BennettHaskew TomHazell
VOX
MayaSchwenke
RajahSelvarajah* TristanSpiteri MitchellSutton
FionaYoung
RebeccaWinton
AlexanderBest
RaphaelaMazzone* CharlotteMoore
SamuelMorrellFeitelberg FinnianMurphy MichaelNolan EdwardPhillips DanielRae IsaiasSirurFlores* JessevanProctor LachlanWrenford
PhillipCullen IanDavies* SimonHarris* ScottHekking
PHOTO:KEITHSAUNDERS
NicolletteBurr
TENORS
BladeFuller
EvaTarbox
JoshuaBorja
CourtneyCousins
OdiliaSugita
VOXmembers(fromleft)Maya SchwenkeandLachlanWrenford
GeorgiaMoore
AnitaBurkart
JosephineBrereton
DorothyWu
AnushkaCoutinho
MelanieDavid MadisonDring LeilaHarris
BryceGonlin
SOPRANOS
BASSES
EmilyWinton
AndyWang
ElizabethScott AssociateMusicDirector
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·19
TimCunniffe AssistantChorusMasterandPrincipalRehearsalPianist
LucyBlomfield ArielBonnell
BoghosKeleshian* AlistairMcDermott* AlexMcEwan
HannahAlexander LucyAndrews
*Memberof ChamberSingers
ALTOS
WilliamYates
JonathonKelley SelwynLemos* KevinLimanta ChrisMasson
JasminJungo
AmeliaMyers
AlanHicksandJeremyWoodside RehearsalPianists
JasminBorsovszky LucyCantrill KarenCortez AijaDraguns ClaireDuffy* LizFuggle SophieFunston VesnaHatezic* CharlotteHumphrys NaomiLeviton RachelMaiden* AtalyaMasi LauraMcKay JessMoore MadiMoore AlleyneMoss AudreyOrmella JudithPickering* BeverleyPrice* LaraRogersonWood BelindaSmith SophieWhitehead JessicaWilliamson JaimieWolbers
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PeterandLisaMacqueen DrJohnO’Brien
LynBaker
DavidandHalinaBrett OlivierChretien NathalieDeeson RuthEdenborough Prof.JennyEdwards
DenysandJennyGillespie YvetteandPeterLeonard
KatieBlake
LillyKrienbuhl
SydneyPhilharmoniaChoirsgratefully acknowledgethevision,commitment andgenerosityofoursupporters.
AnthonyandAnnieWhealy JacquiWilkins
MandDLangford
DrCarolynLowry OAM and PeterLowry OAM
SueBowring
JockBaird–inmemoryof AnnetteMcClure
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CENTENARYCIRCLE
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OURSUPPORTERS
Pleaseconsidermakingatax-deductible donationtoSydneyPhilharmoniaChoirs. Yourgift,ofanysize,wouldmakeavital contributiontoensuringourfutureaswe returntoconcerts. sydneyphilharmonia.com.au/donate
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BeverleyPrice FelicitéRoss
DavidandSueEllyard KateFoot
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$10,000–$39,000
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IanandClaireBennett ChristineBishop KatieBlakeand MichaelJackson
SusanBarrett ChristineBishop NathalieDeeson–in memoryofBrianDeeson Prof.JennyEdwards
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SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·20
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Donationsof$500andaboveare listedonourwebsiteandinour concert programbooks.
Supporterslistedherearecurrent asat1September2022.
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·21
ShirleyHofman
Anonymous(1)
AndreaBeattie
THANKYOU
Weapplaudthegenerousinvolvement ofourpartnersinsupporting SydneyPhilharmoniaChoirs.
CABessemer
GeorgiaRivers
DonationstoSydneyPhilharmonia Choirsarerecognisedfor12 monthsfromthedateofdonation.
AnnaPender
MaggieMcKelvey
JaneDiamond
ChrisMoore
DavidJacobs
ErnestinedeVries
RobertGreen
CaroleBailey
DimitryMoraitisand PeterMorgan
MegShaw
$500–$999
BernadetteMitchell
RobertMitchell
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MaryMortimerand DonaldDenoon
PaulRoper
TraceyJordan,JohnMoore
TheHon.MargaretBeazley ACQC,Governor ofNewSouthWalesandMrDennisWilson
LaurisElms AMOBE DMus(Syd)
MeaganFitzpatrick ChoirsManager
LedbyArtisticandMusicDirectorBrett Weymark OAM since2003,SydneyPhilharmonia Choirscomprisesthreeauditionedandthree communitychoirsthatperformrepertoire fromchoralclassicstomusicaltheatreand commissions byAustraliancomposers. SPC presentsitsownannualconcertseasonand collaborateswithleadingconductors,soloists andorchestrasinAustraliaandoverseas.In 2002,SPCwasthefirstAustralianchoirtosing attheBBCProms(Mahler’sSymphonyNo.8 underSirSimonRattle),returningagainin 2010tocelebrateits90thanniversary.The
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TimCunniffe AssistantChorusMaster& PrincipalRehearsalPianist
YvonneFrindle EditorandDesign
SydneyPhilharmoniaChoirspresentstheart ofchoralsingingatthehigheststandard,and developsthetalentsofthosewithapassion forsinging,inSydneyandbeyond.Founded in1920,ithasbecomeAustralia’sfinestchoral organisationandisaResidentCompanyof theSydneyOperaHouse.
VICE-REGALPATRONS
DrElizabethScott AssociateMusicDirector
SarahHowell PhilanthropyAssociate
JohnLiebmann FinanceManager
In2020,SydneyPhilharmoniaChoirs celebrateditscentenary.Despiterestrictions onliveperformancesthatyear,itpressed aheadwithacommissioningproject–100 MinutesofNewAustralianMusic–featuring newworksbycomposersElenaKats-Chernin andDeborahCheetham,amongothers.2021 sawacautiousbutboldreturntolivechoral performancesandthelaunchofthe2022 seasonwithconcertsintheSydneyTown Hall,StAndrew’sCathedralandthenewly renovatedSydneyOperaHouseConcertHall.
TraceyJordan President AndreaHoole Treasurer IanBennett,KatieBlake
SusanGandy OrchestraCoordinator
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS
LynneMurray VocalCoach
MarkRobinson ArtisticOperationsManager
SimonCrossley-Meates MarketingManager
Prof.theHon.DameMarieBashir ADCVO
BillNapier,GeorgiaRivers,BenYi
ImmijNSW Printer sydneyphilharmonia1
AMBASSADORFORSINGING
(02)82746200|
STAFF
FionaHulton ExecutiveDirector
Wharf4/5,15HicksonRoad,DawesPoint hello@sydneyphilharmonia.com.au sydneyphilharmonia.com.au
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·22
NaomiHamer Office&BoxOfficeAdministrator
sydneyphilharmoniasydney.philharmonia
JacquiWilkins Chair
BrettWeymark OAM Artistic&MusicDirector
PROGRAMCREDITS
YvonneKenny AM BOARD
choirsperformintheSydneySymphony Orchestra’s seasoneveryyearastheyhave doneformorethan80years.SPCalso presentsaseries ofcommunitysinging eventsthroughouttheyear–ChorusOz(the annualBigSing),PopUp Singandsinging workshopsthroughout SydneyandNSW.
VICEPATRONS
SYDNEYPHILHARMONIACHOIRS·2022SEASON·23 NEXTATTHESYDNEYOPERAHOUSE GLORIOUS PUCCINI Sat29October|8pm sydneyphilharmonia.com.au/puccini HANDEL MESSIAH Thu8December|8pm Sat10December|1pm Sun11December|1pm sydneyphilharmonia.com.au/messiah
THESACREDVEIL:ERICWHITACRECONDUCTS SATURDAY17SEPTEMBER2022 SydneyOperaHouseConcertHall
