The Lamb

Ars Nova's Easter Concert offers a number of the beautiful Italian Laude de Cortona songs. The Italian songs are intervowen with newer music. Anna Thorvaldsdottir's "Heyr thú os himnum á", a beautiful setting of an old Icelandic prayer. John Tavener's popular "The Lamb", which in its apparent simplicity almost appears hypnotic. James MacMillan's varied and vibrant "Misere" captures both the drama and the beauty of the story of Easter. Gabriel Jackson's "Stabat Mater", Maria's lament, is a potential modern classic with a rarely heard sensitive and responsive interpretation of the powerful text.