Apollo’s Fire

Jeannette Sorrell, conductor, harpsichord

Ringing with urgency in our time, this acclaimed program created by Jeannette Sorrell honors the peoples whose music and faith brought such vibrancy to the Middle East. In this musical tour of the four quarters of Old Jerusalem (Jewish, Christian, Arab, and Armenian), surprising cross-influences emerge. A Sephardic ballad leads to a classical Arabic love song; selections from Monteverdi’s great Vespers of 1610 echo the rapturous singing of the Jewish cantors in the temples. Twenty-six artists from Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim, and Christian backgrounds perform on oud, theorbo, medieval harp, zither, strings, and exotic percussion. The rhythms of daily life – love, singing, dancing and prayer – culminate in a joyous celebration of shared humanity. 

“Brims with energy and imagination… Programmed with real vision and beautifully performed, a mesmerising portrait of Old Jerusalem reimagined through sound.”
—BBC Music Magazine

Holiday
Easter and Passover

Concert Stream
April 27-May 11

Conceived and Directed by
Jeannette Sorrell

Featured Artists

Sophia Burgos & Sonnya Headlam, soprano | Aryssa Leigh Burrs, mezzo | Jacob Perry, tenor | Jeffrey Strauss & Edward Vogel, baritones

*Daphna Mor, recorder, shawm, ney (Middle Eastern flute), vocals (*Jewish musical & cultural consultant)

**Ronnie Malley, oud & accordion (**Arab musical & cultural consultant)

and Vocalists of Apollo’s Fire

Virtual concert generously sponsored by Roger and Whitney Bagnall