Chamber Series: Seven Last Words…

The evening

Our Chamber concert series at Hallé St Peter’s is a unique opportunity to get up close to the music and enjoy smaller groups of musicians performing incredible music in a more intimate setting.

The sequence of Jesus’ Seven Last Words from the Cross has inspired many creative artists, from composers to poets. In 1786, Joseph Haydn was commissioned to write The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross for a Good Friday service, the day Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The congregation was taken on a reflective journey as, originally, each of the seven slow movements was preceded by Jesus’ last words and a sermon.

Inspired by the piece, award-winning British poet, Ruth Padel wrote her Seven Words and an Earthquake to replace the sermons in this modern retelling. We welcome Ruth who will be reciting her own words between the movements of this contemplative string quartet.