Hastings Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra in a joint performance in 2023 (photo: Peter Mould).

Hastings Philharmonic to perform Dvořák’s Stabat Mater

Hastings Philharmonic Choir’s next concert, on Saturday 5 April, will be a performance of Antonin Dvořák’s famous Stabat Mater. They will be accompanied by the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Marcio da Silva, with soloists Helen May (soprano), Julia Piñon (contralto), Leonel Pinheiro (tenor) and Robert Winslade Anderson (bass). Press officer Gareth Simpson sets the scene.

The Stabat Mater, a thirteenth-century Christian hymn to the Virgin Mary, portrays her suffering as a mother during the crucifixion of her son, Jesus Christ. The text has been frequently set to music over the centuries.

Dvořák (1841-1904) completed his poignantly beautiful setting in 1877. It is a deeply personal work, being intimately bound up with the tragic deaths of his own young children. Despite its sorrowful and sometimes anguished mood, Dvořák’s music ends in hope, with a radiant and stirring vision of paradise.

Premiered in Prague in 1880, it was an English performance of the work four years later in the Royal Albert Hall that played a crucial role in Dvořák’s international recognition as a composer.  It continues to be his best known and most often performed sacred work.

Stabat Mater by Dvořák Hastings Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra. Saturday 5 April, 7pm, Christ Church, Silchester Road, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6GL. Tickets are on sale via the choir’s website or from The Bookkeeper, 1A Kings Road, St Leonards TN37 6EA, priced at £22.50/£18/£13.50. Students, under 18s, jobseekers and universal credit recipients £5, or pay what you can.

Hastings Philharmonic Choir is a friendly choir which performs three times a year plus a carol concert in December. In the past year or so the choir has been growing strongly and now has over 90 singing members, but we are always happy to welcome new members who enjoy singing and who can follow written-down music.

The best way of finding out if Hastings Philharmonic Choir is for you is to visit one or more of our weekly rehearsals – send us an email at info@hastingsphilchoir.org and we will be delighted to see you.

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