This Saturday, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is thrilled to welcome the return of the Grammy®-winning Experiential Orchestra (EXO) to the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. The program entitled, Reflections of Memory, showcases Richard Strauss’ Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings, a kaleidoscopic exploration of harmony and color, imbued with memory and loss, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis—one of the most celebrated works for strings—which reflects and expands Tallis’s 16th-century hymn tune. This stunning program will unfold across three distinct locations in the Cathedral, weaving together the past, present, and future in an inspiring sonic tapestry. In between these two pieces, the original Thomas Tallis Hymn Tune that inspired Vaughan Williams to compose this stunning work will be performed.
James Blachly, Founder and Music Director of the Experiential Orchestra, said, “Last year’s two performances of Arvo Pärt’s Passio at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine were so inspiring and meaningful to me, and the realization of a decades-long vision. As I reflected on those nights over the past year, I began to dream up this program, designed specifically for the unique, awe-inspiring, and comforting expanse of this Cathedral, where I grew up attending services, hearing concerts, and performing countless times, beginning when I was a young child.”
The concert will be an immersive experience inviting audiences to lie down on your own yoga mat immersed in the bath of sound, walk in thoughtful meditation in the majesty of the Cathedral as the music reflects off the stones, or seated comfortably surrounding the musicians.
The one-night only performance takes place on Saturday, February 22, at 7:30pm. Tickets start at just $25 and are available at www.stjohndivine.org.
