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This impressive work is regularly performed in its home city of Vienna; at the Elbphilharmonie, it will be heard for the first time: Franz Schmidt’s monumental oratorio »Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln« (The Book with Seven Seals). To mark the opening of the International Music Festival Hamburg, Manfred Honeck will conduct this gripping musical setting of the »Revelation of St John«, which can also be viewed via livestream on 2 May. For Honeck, »this is a key work, one of the most important oratorios of the 20th century«. 

With a massive ensemble and a dramatic late-Romantic musical language, Franz Schmidt’s oratorio »Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln« traces the biblical vision of the spread of the Christian faith right up to the Day of Judgement. It stands as one of the last great monuments of Austrian late Romanticism and impressively continues the significant lineage of Bach’s Passions and Brahms’s »German Requiem« into the 20th century. The score is thus in the best of hands with conductor Manfred Honeck, who brings it to the stage with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra.

This monumental oratorio demands an enormous amount from the performers. For the legendary tenor Peter Schreier, the exceptionally demanding role of John the Baptist was a showcase part; in Hamburg, Maximillian Schmitt now sings the part of the prophet. Schmitt is supported by a line-up of top-class singers, such as the bass Tareq Nazmi, who embodies the voice of God, and the soprano Christina Landshamer as the Mother and the Angel. The NDR Vocal Ensemble and the MDR Radio Choir perform the difficult choral parts.

The conductor talks about the oratorio »The Book with Seven Seals«, his collaboration with other great conductors, and his understanding of staying true to the original work.

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester

MDR-Rundfunkchor

NDR Vokalensemble

Maximilian Schmitt Johannes

Tareq Nazmi The Voice of God

Christina Landshamer soprano

Catriona Morison alto

Patrick Grahl tenor

Gerrit Illenberger bass

Thomas Cornelius organ

conductor Manfred Honeck

Franz Schmidt
Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln / Oratorio for Soloists, Choir, Organ and Orchestra