About the Performance
“It looked as though these islands were floating in the air, colorful cupolas and turrets appearing between the trees. The bells began to ring, low-pitched booms and higher, shrill clinks: the world was filled with sounds and colors.” A visit to Valamo Monastery in 1939 burned in composer Einojuhani Rautavaara’s soul for decades before crystallizing into a monumental concert-length work in 1996. “Then there were the monks with dark beards and dressed in robes, the tall arching ceilings of the church, the saints immortalized in icons, the kings and angels…” Journey with The Sound Between through Rautavaara’s extraordinary experience as we bring to vivid life his unaccompanied choral masterpiece, VIGILIA.
Running Time: 75 minutes, no intermission.
What is "Vigilia"?
Vigilia, a word of Latin origin, means “to watch”. It refers to purposeful sleeplessness through the night. A vigil can be held for a number of different reasons. In ancient times, vigils were often held on the eve of war. In modern times, vigils are sometimes used as a means of peaceful protest and and also held in periods of public mourning or remembrance. Rautavaara’s “Vigilia” was written as a prayer service in the Orthodox Christian tradition. As in the secular (non-religious) realm, this vigil lasts overnight, from dusk till dawn. In the sacred realm, a vigil often leads into a major feast (holy) day. It consists of three or four canonical hours, depending on the specific tradition. For this concert piece, Rautavaara chose to set the Vespers (held at sunset) and Matins (held just before sunrise) hours.
A number of classical composers have written an “All-Night Vigil” - among them Rautavaara, of course, Tchaikovsky, and the most famous setting by Sergei Rachmaninoff. We are thrilled to share this performance of Rautavaara’s masterpiece with you, hopefully in a new light, creating a more immersive experience for all involved.
Featured Artists
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