Jonathan Harvey’s visionary work Weltethos(‘world ethics’) could not have had a more glowing start: it was premiered in October 2011 by the Berlin Philharmonic/Berlin Radio Choir and Sir Simon Rattle, and received its UK premiere in June with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Chorus and Edward Gardner. Now London audiences will have the chance to experience this extraordinary piece when it reaches the Royal Festival Hall
on Sunday 7th October, as part of the Southbank Centre’s Ether Festival.
 
The epic work for orchestra, choirs and narrator, was a commission from the theologian Hans Küng for the Berlin Philharmonic, and explores the shared spiritual heritage of humanity through texts from six of the world’s great religions: Confucianism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. It has been described as ‘Harvey’s most ambitious choral work to date’ (The Guardian) and ‘[filled with] the most extraordinary, often radiant, textures’ (The Times).
 
7/10/12 Royal Festival Hall, 7.30pm 
Jonathan Harvey
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Michael Seal conductor
Sam West narrator
CBSO Chorus
CBSO Youth Chorus
CBSO Children's Chorus
 
This main concert will be preceded by a chamber concert conceived as ‘as a meditation on Jonathan Harvey's greatest intimate and electro-acoustic chamber works.’
 
7/10/12 Purcell Room, 5.30pm 
Jonathan Harvey Cirrus Light (UK premiere)
Mortuos Plango Vivos Voco
 
Plus a sculptural installation by artist Flora Robertson, and bespoke lighting design, respond to the music and modify the space.
 
Mark Simpson clarinet
David Sheppard electronics
Oliver Coates cello
Alexandra Wood violin
Marcus Barcham-Stevens violin
Max Baillie viola
 
Tickets for both concerts are still available via the Southbank Centre.