David Lang’s “The Little Match Girl Passion” with Ekmeles Vocal Ensemble

NYC vocal ensemble Ekmeles brings David Lang’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Little Match Girl Passion” to Halifax. Ekmeles Vocal Ensemble from New York City brings David Lang’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Little Match Girl Passion” to Halifax in a performance led by conductor Jeffrey Gavett. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl” and shaped through the structural lens of J.S. Bach’s “St Matthew Passion,” the work has become a popular pre-holiday tradition for Ekmeles in Manhattan through the city's celebrated "Death of Classical" concert series. The Halifax program also features works by Kaija Saariaho, Ben Johnston, and Petros Leivadas, composers whose music explores the expressive possibilities of the human voice in strikingly different ways. Known for its fearless precision and praised by The New York Times for its “extraordinary sense of pitch,” Ekmeles is internationally recognized for new and rarely heard vocal music, with a particular focus on microtonal repertoire. Written for four voices, with the singers also playing simple percussion, Lang’s score creates a spare and intimate sound world of striking emotional power. THE PROGRAM: Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023) From the Grammar of Dreams for soprano and mezzo-soprano Ben Johnston (1926–2019) Rose He’s Goin’ Away for five voices Petros Leivadas (b. 1990) Cuál es su Ardor for tenor, baritone, and bass David Lang (b. 1957) The Little Match Girl Passion 1. Come, daughter 2. It was terribly cold 3. Dearest heart 4. In an old apron 5. Penance and remorse 6. Lights were shining 7. Patience, patience! 8. Ah! perhaps 9. Have mercy, my God 10. She lighted another match 11. From the sixth hour 12. She again rubbed a match 13. When it is time for me to go 14. In the dawn of morning 15. We sit and cry Season Sponsor: NICE MOVES / Red Door Realty