600 voices premier John Luther Adams’, “In the Name of the Earth”

JAMIE ENGELS PERFORMS IN A WORLD PREMIER AT ST. JOHN THE DIVINE

With over 600 vocal musicians crowding into the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, the world premier of In the Name of the Earth brought the audience and the critics to their feet with applause. According to one critic, “I like the earth as much as anybody else, but for a Pulitzer-winning composer of Adams’s caliber, the contained environment of the cathedral was much more favorable to his ethereal, meticulously honed sounds. And In the Name of the Earth may stand among his best pieces.” (The original Central Park venue was rained out.)

For NBCS Vocal teacher, Jamie Engels it was a rare opportunity to participate in this unique and moving experience. The music was “spur of the moment, very expressive and mercurial,” commented Engels who concluded, it was an “excellent opportunity, a worthwhile experience but very hard work”.