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Schubert: Mass No 6 in Eb Major

3 pm on Saturday 23 May, Wentworth Falls School of Arts

3 pm on Sunday 24 May, Hoskins Memorial Church, Lithgow

The last of Schubert’s six masses, this work was completed just months before his death in 1828, at the age of 31. Schubert never heard it performed. Critics have likened it to the great masses of Haydn and Mozart, describing it as beautiful, moving and emotionally powerful, arguably Schubert’s most expressive and fascinating sacred work.

In this mass, Schubert steps right up to the very precipice of the Romantic Movement, pushing Classical composition to its absolute limits. The chromatic fugues and stunning modulations within this Mass foreshadow the rich harmonic system of the mature Romantic style to come. Here Schubert eliminates polyphony, a style that had dominated liturgical composition for more than two centuries, where multiple overlapping vocal parts are used to create a rich textural harmony. Instead, he favours an early Renaissance homophonic style, relying on dynamics, rhythm and formal architecture to create drama.

The choir will be joined by soloists Samanta Lestavel (Soprano), Elizabeth Cooper (Mezzo-Soprano), Joshua Oxley (Tenor) and Tristan Entwistle (Bass)

Click here for tickets

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… Perchance to dream

Saturday 8 August, Wentworth Falls School of Arts

Sunday 9 August, Hoskins Memorial Church, Lithgow

Phoenix Choir & Phoenix Chamber Choir

A varied collection of works from the last 400 years, exploring the themes of night, sleep and dreams.

Curated and conducted by our new Guest Conductor, Kevin Barker, and accompanied by Christopher Bennett (cello) and Janette Norcott (piano).

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Albert Morris

Saturday 28 November, Phillips Hall, Blackheath

World premier! Excerpts from the contemporary oratorio by our Musical Director, Rowen Fox.

Albert Morris was an Australian amateur botanist and ecologist, who pioneered the use of natural revegetation to restore degraded landscapes around Broken Hill in the 1930s. The regeneration reserves established by Albert, his wife, Margaret, and members of the Broken Hill Barrier Field Naturalists Club still exist. These reserves transformed the town. Albert’s work and discoveries remain relevant to bush regeneration efforts today.

Rowen’s libretto is based on several original sources, including Albert and Margaret’s own words, taken from articles they wrote about the regeneration scheme for local newspapers. Albert Morris is a work in progress. The first stage of funding – 20 minutes of choruses – was commissioned by Phoenix members a few years ago. Sadly the planned preview of these choruses was cancelled due to the Covid lockdown. Rowen is currently completing the piano score. The finished work will include instrumentalists, chorus and soloists.