Membra Jesu Nostri

By Buxtehude

Pinchgut Opera

City Recital Hall, April 2023

With Alexandra Oomens

Lauren Lodge-Campbell

Hannah Fraser

Louis Hurley

Andrew O'Connor

And Orchestra of the Antipodes

Conductor Erin Helyard
Lighting & Projection Design Trent Suidgeest

Projection Associate Cameron Smith

A cycle of seven cantatas composed by German composer Dieterich Buxtehude in 1680, each cantata is a Passion meditation, contemplating the different parts of Christ’s body on the cross. The music is loving: pure, balanced and deeply expressive, demonstrating an extraordinary attention to unity of conception storytelling of an incomprehensible tale.

Pinchgut’s presentation of this astonishing work brought together a stellar chorus of soloists, including Alexandra Oomens and Lauren Lodge-Campbell, who both returned to Australia after performances throughout Europe with some of the world’s eminent Baroque ensembles, along with the sublime sounds of Andrew O’Connor, Hannah Fraser and Louis Hurley. Joining them was a specially selected group of expert players of the Orchestra of the Antipodes, led by Erin Helyard.

This is sacred, meditative music of the highest order and beauty, presented with all the intimacy, emotion and power that inspired its creation over 300 years ago.