Programme:
Karl Jenkins Stabat Mater and other Choral music by J.S. Bach, J.Busto, B. Chilcott, V.Miskinis

Performers: Jurgita Adamonyte (Mezzo-soprano)

Camerata Chamber Choir

Instrumental Ensemble

Stabat Mater is a 13th century sequence attributed to Jacopone da Todi. It has been set to music by many composers, among them Haydn, Dvorak, Vivaldi, Rossini, Pergolesi, Pärt, Verdi.

Its title is an abbreviation of the first line, Stabat Mater Dolorosa ("The sorrowful mother was standing"). The hymn, one of the most powerful and immediate of medieval poems, meditates on the suffering of Mary, Jesus Christ's mother, during his crucifixion.

K. Jenkins' setting extends this to a universal depiction of grief by using ancient text from the area (Holy Land/Middle East) that will be sung in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic and a contemporary poem, sung in English.

The world première performance of the Stabat Mater took place in Liverpool on 15th March 2008.

It is our pleasure to welcome soloist Jurgita Adamonyte, who performed at the world première performance of the Stabat Mater, which took place in Liverpool on 15th March 2008, and recorded this work with Karl Jenkins.