Like as the Hart

The Anglistenchor Heidelberg warmly invites you to two special concerts on Saturday, March 29, at 7:00 PM in the Catholic Church of St. Peter in Walldorf and on Sunday, March 30, at 7:00 PM in the Christuskirche in Heidelberg.

Under the title Like as the hart, the audience can expect a diverse program of sacred music from various eras. The choir will perform in a wide range of formations: four- to eight-part mixed choir, as a men’s and women’s choir, as well as in a smaller ensemble of up to eight singers. The concert will be accompanied by organist Markus Piringer (Pforzheim). The program includes works by Heinrich von Herzogenberg, Anton Bruckner, Edward Bairstow, Herbert Howells, Rihards Dubra, Orlando di Lasso, John Farmer, Dariusz Zimnicki, and Gerald Finzi. The musical direction is in the hands of Alexander Albrecht.

At the heart of the concert is Lo, the full, final sacrifice by the English composer Gerald Finzi. This impressive composition, based on texts by the poet Richard Crashaw and inspired by a hymn by Thomas Aquinas, unfolds a monumental soundscape over a duration of 20 minutes. The harmonic tension, combined with meditative calm and powerful musical outbursts, makes Lo, the full, final sacrifice a milestone of 20th-century English choral music.

Additionally, the program includes three other significant works of English choral music: Like as the hart by Herbert Howells, Let all mortal flesh keep silence by Edward Bairstow, and The Lord’s Prayer by John Farmer, all of which are thematically and musically well-integrated into the concert program.

Another musical focus of the evening is on works by Anton Bruckner: Os justi, Locus iste, Virga Jesse, and Christus factus est. Bruckner’s distinctive musical language, with its majestic buildups and powerful spirituality, promises a deeply moving listening experience.

A special highlight is Crucifige by contemporary Polish composer Dariusz Zimnicki, a gripping musical depiction of Christ’s Passion. The alternation between dynamic intensity and haunting silence, complemented by spoken elements, vividly brings to life the enraged crowd shouting “Crucifige!” (Crucify him!) in a distressingly dramatic manner.

Let yourself be enchanted by an evening full of musical diversity and spiritual depth. We look forward to welcoming you and wish you an unforgettable concert experience!

Admission is free – donations to support choral culture are warmly welcomed.