The Saint Nicolas Cantata

Artists:

• Peter Kirk - tenor
• Michał Rot, Dominika Peszko – piano
• Karol Szutka – pipe organ
• Artur Koza – conductor
• The Child Choir of the Henryk Wieniawski Music School in Łódź (preparation: Anna Kamerys)
• The Łódź Philharmonic Choir (preparation: Artur Koza)
• The Łódź Philharmonic Orchestra

Program:

• Ralph Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on Greensleeves [5’]
• Thomas Tallis – Why fumeth in sight [4']
• Ralph Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis [16’]

BREAK

• Benjamin Britten – Saint Nicolas – Cantata Op. 42 [50']
  • Introduction
  • The Birth of Nicolas
  • Nicolas Devotes Himself to God
  • He Journeys to Palestine
  • Nicolas Comes to Myra and is Chosen Bishop
  • Nicolas from Prison
  • Nicolas and the Pickled Boys
  • His Piety and Marvellous Works
  • The Death of Nicolas

Compere: Andrzej Zieliński (The Polish Radio)

Saint Nicolas really existed. He was the bishop of Myra, a city which today is a part of Turkey. He died on the 6^th of December of the year 350 A.D. He gained renown because of his miracles and the help he provided for the poor and needy with the use of his own fortune. He also donated money for the dowry of underprivileged maidens on multiple occasions, convinced the emperor to lift the death penalty in the cases of several careless young men, saved fishermen from drowning during a storm with prayer and cared for the ill during the time of an epidemic. He was also a defender of faith. The cult of this figure likely developed during the IXth century. Benjamin Britten devoted his cantata to the life story of the generous and kind-hearted bishop. The piece is the first of his twelve compositions intended for amateur performances. It was commissioned by the Lancing College in Sussex for the hundredth anniversary of the school. The lineup includes just a few parts that require the participation of professional musicians; these parts form the foundation of the piece. The program will be completed by two compositions of another British composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams: the Fantasia on Greensleeves based on the popular English folk melody, and the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, alluding to the body of work of the English renaissance composer, who gained recognition because of his liturgical pieces.

At 6:15 PM we invite you to the Henryk Czyż Chamber Room for a pre-concert meeting led by Andrzej Zieliński

Top photo: Artur Koza, phot. Dariusz Kulesza

The Saint Nicolas Cantata by Benjamin Britten performed by Andrew Kennedy, the Cambridge King’s College Choir and the Britten Sinfonia Orchestra conducted by Stephen Cleobury: