Work Sample - Site-specific Concert
EXCERPTS FROM LITTLE MATCH GIRL PASSION
March 17 & 18, 2018
Homewood Cemetery Chapel
Resonance Works presented the Pittsburgh premiere of David Lang’s little match girl passion on March 17 & 18, 2018 in the intimate chapel at Homewood Cemetery. Winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, this modern masterpiece tells the beloved Hans Christian Andersen story in the form of a passion, taking direct inspiration from Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. The program also featured Lorna McGhee, principal flute of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, playing works by Bach and Bernstein, and violinist Maureen Conlon-Gutiérrez, along with the Resonance Chamber Orchestra and Festival Chorus. Performances were preceded by a short musical prelude and walking tour highlighting the oldest section of the cemetery, dating back to 1878. The prelude and tour were free to the public.
Both performances sold out, and a large number of patrons took part in the prelude and cemetery tour. In our post-performance audience surveys, only 4% indicated that they were previously familiar with the repertoire, but the vast majority said it was "Excellent and Loved it!"
little match girl passion was presented with support of A.W. Mellon Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation
Audience comments:
“This was a phenomenal experience, rich and personal.”
“The passion was absolutely stunning.”
"...brilliant and moving and beautifully performed"
"We were astonished by the level of talent, the music we were exposed to, and the chance to have that experience in such an intimate space.”
Reviews:
“a stunning site-specific experience born of a well-conceived partnership with Homewood Cemetery”
Resonance Works delivers strong Pittsburgh premiere of 'little match girl passion':
“Resonance Works Pittsburgh has demonstrated an innovative streak in its musical programming, earning its own niche in the city’s concert landscape… Choir and soloists attended to the shivering, almost primal chant-like text-settings with reverence, conjuring a sense of bleakness and slowly transforming their sound into one of tenderness and warmth.”