Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace

Brisbane Chorale

Sinfonia of St Andrew's

Conducted by Emily Cox

Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000

Since its world première in 2000, The Armed Man has captured the imagination of music lovers everywhere, becoming one of the most frequently performed, poignant choral works of the moment. It is a work of haunting beauty, a compelling account of the descent into and terrible consequences of war, and a powerful plea for peace. The work's theme is multicultural and worldwide – affecting all humans.

Rachmaninoff: The Bells

Brisbane Chorale

Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by Simon Hewett

Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Cnr Grey and, Melbourne St, South Brisbane

Brisbane Chorale, The Queensland Choir

Brisbane Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by Emily Cox, Kevin Power

Brisbane City Hall

As part of the 4MBS Festival of Classics, Brisbane’s two leading choirs – Brisbane Chorale and The Queensland Choir – join forces with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra in a spectacular programme of great choral music with orchestra and organ in the Concert Hall of the Brisbane City Hall. Excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, the Requiems of Mozart, Verdi and Brahms, Orff’s Carmina Burana and Bach’s St Matthew Passion, plus opera choruses by Verdi, Wagner, Bizet and Gounod and music by Beethoven, Offenbach and Sullivan make for an exhilarating afternoon of thrilling choral music.

Mahler: Symphony No 2 ("Resurrection")

Brisbane Chorale, The Queensland Choir

Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra

Conducted by Simon Hewett

Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Mahler’s vast Symphony No.2 lasts almost 90 minutes, and requires a full orchestra with extra brass, bells, a choir, two female soloists and an off-stage orchestra. It deals with death, redemption and resurrection, concluding with a wonderful choral setting of Klopstock’s Resurrection Ode. The choir begins peacefully in a very subdued mood but gradually the tempo develops more energy and leads to a magnificent climax in which choir and orchestra project Mahler’s vision of resurrection with great rapture and glory.