The Song of the Children of the Stars

A programme of sonically adventurous music, old and new. Mystical, echoing, otherworldly, Unsuk Chin’s Le Chant des Enfants des Étoiles (‘The Song of the Children of Stars’) - heard here in its European premiere - is scored for symphony orchestra, choir, children's choir and organ. Chin takes inspiration from the idea that ‘all humans are stardust’, formed from cosmic explosions billions of years ago and draws on texts from 20th century poets exploring galactic and natural phenomena. The concert opens with an extraordinary work by 17th century composer Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, a programmatic ‘battle’ piece that steps outside traditions of tonality.

"From its opening bars the music pulled the audience into the endless abyss of the cosmos, soon filling the whole concert hall with magnificent echoes. It was like taking a spacewalk into the infinite universe." Chosun Ilbo (South Korea).

This concert is part of the Salonen Series series