Roberto Gerhard: The Plague and John Adams: Harmonium
Saturday 15 January, 8pm | Barbican, London
Crouch End Festival Chorus
London Orchestra da Camera
David Temple conductor
Paul McGann Doctor Rieux
Based on the book by Nobel prize-winning novelist Albert Camus, and with an electrifying musical score by Roberto Gerhard, The Plague tells of the invasion of Oran, a French Algerian town, by a lethal rat-borne plague. Recorded through his own personal journal, Dr Rieux (Paul McGann – pictured) fights the plague with all the means at his disposal.
In 1963, during a period of great experimentation, Gerhard adapted Camus’ novel into a concise musical drama, with gigantic orchestra and a huge choir playing the part of the townspeople. The resulting sound is chilling.
One of the world’s greatest living composers, John Adams creates music both accessible and richly satisfying. In Harmonium he uses texts from John Donne and Emily Dickinson to create a roller-coaster soundscape shot through with love, death and sex.
In 2005, Crouch End Festival Chorus performed Harmonium in the presence of the composer, and conductor David Temple believes this work stands alongside Britten’s War Requiem as one of the finest choral works from the second half of the 20th century.
Booking and information
Saturday 15 January 2011, 8pm
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
TICKETS: £24/£21/£19/£15/£12.50/£9
Half price for age 18 & under
20% discount for CEFC Friends, Crouch End Card holders and Barbican members
Barbican box office 020 7638 8891
Barbican online booking – reduced booking fee for online bookings
Behind the notes
Learn more about Adams and Gerhard in our Behind the notes area.