Jazz in the Cathedral PRAYER WHEEL

Stephanplatz

1010 Wien

 

Listen to Karén Asatrián's jazz mass PRAYER WHEEL performed by an extraordinary double choir in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral.

On an Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, The Philharmonia Choir Vienna and the senior choir of the Mozart Music School/Musical High School Salzburg join forces to create a musical symbol of peace, humanity and interfaith dialogue.

The mass is based on early Christian liturgy (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) and combines Western musical tradition with Oriental timbres and improvisational jazz elements. Mantra-like repetitions and the Latin language also refer to Buddhist prayer wheels, which give the work its name. The musical dramaturgy leads from G minor to the festive key of D major.

PRAYER WHEEL for choir and jazz quartet is truly an extraordinary work! The mix of Eastern and Western sounds creates a wide range of moods: suggestive, meditative, wistful, radiant, solemn and even rhythmically stirring. Since its premiere in 2015 at the Konzerthaus Klagenfurt and a performance at the 2016 Salzburg Festival, PRAYER WHEEL has been regarded as an important work of contemporary sacred music. The 2026 performance lends the work special cultural and social relevance due to its date, location and large ensemble.

The concert in St Stephen's Cathedral will be the grand finale of the SOUNDS OF ARMENIA festival, which will have combined literature and music in an impressive dialogue over the previous three evenings at the Porgy & Bess jazz club, giving voice to Armenia's vibrant cultural heritage and the unbroken will to survive of its people.

Performers:

Philharmonia Choir Vienna
Oberstufenchor des Mozart-Musikgymnasiums / Musischen Gymnasiums Salzburg
Thomas Huber, Musical direction
Rita Movsesian, Vocals
Karén Asatrián, Piano
Daniel Nösig, Trumpet
Uli Langthaler, double bass
Emil Krištof, drums

Program:

Karén Asatrián: Jazzmass Prayer Wheel

90 Minutes, no intermission

(Source: kunstkultur.com)