1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
USA

The Cathedral Of St. John The Divine Presents
The Full United States Premiere Of
EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA’S VIGILIA
Tuesday, November 15
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Cathedral of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street), Manhattan
Groundbreaking performance is part of Cathedral’s 2016–2017 Great Music in a Great Space Concert Series
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine presents Kent Tritle leading the Cathedral Choir in Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Vigilia, performed in its entirety for the first time in the United States, as part of the Cathedral’s Great Music in a Great Space Concert Series on Tuesday, November 15, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street).
The Cathedral pays tribute to lauded Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, who passed away on July 27 of his year, with the U.S. premiere of the completeVigilia. This transcendent and unique setting of the Finnish Orthodox service was first performed at the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki in 1971, yet it has never been presented in its entirety, including both Matins and Vespers, in the United States. Sini Rautavaara, widow of Einojuhani, will join the Cathedral for the premier of this work. A singer herself, Ms. Rautavaara is also the Finnish language coach for the professional Cathedral Choir on this performance. Ms. Rautavaara will be speaking with young composers about her husband’s work, and is available for interviews during her time here.
Rautavaara’s inspiration for this music was “a vision-inducing childhood visit to the island monastery of Valamo in the middle of Lake Ladoga just before the Winter War in 1939… black-bearded monks in their robes, the high vaulted churches, and the saints, kings, and angels in the icons… dazzled my ten-year old mind…”
The Cathedral is proud to collaborate with the Erkko Foundation in presenting the U.S. premiere of this stunning work for a cappella choir and soloists in memory of Einojuhani Rautavaara.
The Cathedral Choir of St. John the Divine
- Kent Tritle, conductor
- Halley Gilbert, soprano
- Sara Murphy, mezzo-soprano
- Marc Day, tenor
- Malcolm Merriweather, baritone
- Matt Boehler, bass
Great Music in a Great Space is a series of concerts open to the public and inspired by a range of musical traditions. Re-launched in 2012, Great Music in a Great Space resumes the legendary Cathedral concert and recital series from the 1980s, showcasing the most exciting composers and performers in the world of choral and orchestral music and consistently drawing capacity crowds.