World premiere of Bishop Hilarion’s “Christmas Oratorio”
In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States, canonical reunification of the Moscow Patriarchate with the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and the long anticipated return of the historic Danilov monastery bells, owned by Harvard University for more than 75 years, the World Premiere of the Christmas Oratorio composed by the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Vienna and Austria Hilarion (Alfeyev) was featured at three venues in the United States from Monday, December 17, to Thursday, December 20, 2007.
Conducted by Valery Khalikov, the concerts were performed by the Central Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Choir of the National Tretyakov Art Gallery, and the Youth Choir of the Musical College of the Moscow Conservatory.
On Monday night, December 17, 2007, 3000 guests crowded Washington’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the debut in the nation’s capital. Among the special guests in attendance was His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman. At the concert His Beatitude sat with His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and His Grace, Bishop Hilarion.
The Russian Minister of Culture, Alexander Sokolov was also in attendance in Washington. He commented that: “The significance of tonight’s event cannot be overestimated. For the first time in modern history a musical composition by an Orthodox bishop is performed in the largest American Catholic Cathedral.”
Over 25 graduates of St. Vladimir’s Seminary attended the concert in Washington. At a pre-performance meal the Basilica, SVS Chancellor, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, gave a presentation to the alumni on the many good and exciting aspects of seminary life with the implementation of the curriculum changes and the new program for the wives of seminarians.
On Tuesday, December 18, 2007, Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church in New York, NY, was filled to capacity for the second concert. One concert attendee, the daughter of a Russian Orthodox priest, said: “Imagine this [Central Symphony] Orchestra of the Russian Ministry of Defense performing a religious piece like this, when just a few years ago Russia was a communist state!”
The final performance took place at The Memorial Church of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday, December 20, 2007.
“The movement of the oratorio is essentially one from darkness to light, from the painful expectation of the Messiah to the triumphant joy of mankind’s salvation by God incarnate,” Bishop Hilarion said of his work. “The angels’ glorification in song of the Son of God who is born in Bethlehem is joined to that of all humans. This joint exaltation is symbolized by the singing of two choirs, the boys’ choir and the mixed choir.”
“At the heart of this composition lies the Gospel narrative of the birth and early days of Jesus Christ’s life on earth,” His Grace said. “The libretto uses Orthodox liturgical texts from the feasts of the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple.”
Bishop Hilarion studied music before entering the monastery and being ordained to the priesthood and later consecrated a bishop. He previously wrote “The Passion According to Saint Matthew”, which premiered in Rome on March 29, 2007.
With information from Church of St. Jean Baptiste web site <http://www.sjbrcc.net/oratorio.html> and St. Vladimir’s Seminary web site <http://www.svots.edu/news/recent/2007-1217-christmas-oratorio/>.