Aurora

Join Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for a mesmerising and transcendent choral experience as the talented young singers of VOX, conducted by Elizabeth Scott, perform luminous music by Rautavaara, Arvo Pärt and other leading lights of the contemporary choral scene.

Please note: this event is not held at the Sydney Opera House.

Aurora. Perhaps you think of the Aurora Australis and the Aurora Borealis – the southern and northern lights. In this concert the talented young singers of VOX perform luminous music by leading names of the contemporary choral scene, from both hemispheres.

At the heart of this celestial aural experience sits Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Missa a cappella – a contemplative devotional work by a Finnish mystic. To frame it, otherworldly and evocative music by Latvian Ēriks Ešenvalds and Estonian Arvo Pärt. These northern ‘lights’ are joined by Eric Whitacre (his colourful and kinetically charged Cloudburst), and three Australian voices. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs has commissioned new works from Nicholas Buc and James Henry, with Luke Byrne’s Desert Sea making a welcome return.

It’s a mesmerising program that will showcase the virtuosity of VOX and inspire you with the transformative beauty of the music.

Meet the performers after the concert: public reception in Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Wharf 4/5 Studio.

Presented by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Ēriks EŠENVALDS The First Tears
Ēriks EŠENVALDS Rivers of Light
Einojuhani RAUTAVAARA Missa a cappella
Eric WHITACRE Cloudburst
Luke BYRNE Desert Sea†
Arvo PÄRT Magnificat
Nicholas BUC New Work†
James HENRY New Work†
† Sydney Philharmonia Choirs commission

Elizabeth Scott conductor
VOX