From J.S. Bach’s intimate portrayal of a man’s sublime resignation and yearning to Messiaen’s achingly beautiful movement from his Quartet For the End of Time, Songs of Heaven and Earth offers the distinctively unique ideas of three brilliant composers’ perceptions of heavenly voices.

The program closes with soprano Susanna Phillips, whose voice The New York Times describes as “warm and shimmering,” singing “Das himmlische Leben” in Mahler’s sunniest and most intimate symphony presenting a child’s vision of the heavens.

Program details:
J.S. BACH · Ich habe genug, BWV 82a
Tyler Duncan, baritone; James Austin Smith, oboe; Stefan Jackiw, Andrew McIntosh, violins; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; Kenneth Olsen, cello; Timothy Cobb, bass; Patricia Mabee, organ

MESSIAEN · Louange à l’Immortalité de Jésus from Quatuor pour la fin du temps
Stefan Jackiw, violin; Conrad Tao, piano

MAHLER · Symphony No. 4 in G Major (arr. Erwin Stein)
Susanna Phillips, soprano; Erin Keefe, Ben Beilman, violins; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; Alisa Weilerstein, cello; Timothy Cobb, bass; Henrik Heide, flute/piccolo; James Austin Smith, oboe/english horn; Anthony McGill, clarinet/bass clarinet; Valentin Martchev, bassoon; Dustin Donahue, percussion; Inon Barnatan, piano; Patricia Mabee, harmonium; Osmo Vänskä, conductor