In Paradisum

Artists
Sydney Chamber Choir
Sam Allchurch | Conductor
Julian Smiles | Cello

From the stillness of Baltic and Nordic landscapes to the luminous clarity of Australian skies, this program traces a musical journey through faith, light and love.

Sacred works from Estonia, Norway and Sweden — including Arvo Pärt's Bogoroditse Dyevo, Galina Grigorjeva's In Paradisum and Edvard Grieg's Ave Maris Stella — evoke a spirituality that is both intimate and timeless, while Veljo Tormis vividly captures the Estonian light in selections from Autumn Landscapes.

At the heart of the program are two deeply moving pieces for choir and cello — Norwegian Knut Nystedt's meditative Stabat Mater and Australian Joe Twist's poignant Lament. In the hands of Julian Smiles, one of Australia's most distinguished cellists, the cello's voice will intertwine with the choir, amplifying the humanity and compassion within each score.

Completing this rich musical tapestry are two works offering timely reflections on the importance of love: The Greatest of These by Anne Cawrse, commissioned for our 50th anniversary in 2025, and Sven-David Sandström's expressive Four Songs of Love.

In Paradisum is a celebration of choral sound at its most radiant — where northern serenity meets southern warmth in music of depth and grace.