Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem & Szymanowski: Stabat Mater
Conducted by Rick Prakhoff with Melbourne Bach Choir and Zelman Symphony
Brahms: Nänie, Op 82
Conducted by Jessica Zuk with Melbourne Bach Choir and Zelman Symphony
Melbourne Bach Choir celebrates its 20th anniversary with Brahms and Szymanowski.
Returning to the Melbourne Recital Centre for 20th Anniversary concert series, Melbourne Bach Choir proudly presents Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem and Nänie Opus 82, and Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater, in partnership with Zelman Symphony, on 11 September 2026 at 8pm.
This concert brings a choral and symphonic triptych of honour and reflection on life, with hope and comfort expressed through the creative perspectives of two of the most significant European Romantic composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Brahms’ German Requiem, known as the ‘humanist requiem’, emphasizes comfort and solace for the living. Szymanowski’s first thought when composing Stabat Mater in 1926 was to produce a Polish ‘people’s’ Requiem. And Brahms’ Nänie offers a deeply expressive lament about the inevitability of loss, whilst celebrating how we honour those we have loved.
This concert promises many highlights; our 20th anniversary, 100 years since the first performance of the Stabat Mater. And our three featured soloists – soprano Helena Dix , mezzo-soprano Belinda Paterson and baritone Warwick Fyfe, perform the Stabat Mater in Polish for the first time. We are thrilled to welcome Helena Dix, recently returned to Australia after two decades based in England and performing in opera houses in Europe and around the world.
And for the first time, one of our former conducting scholars takes to the stage in a leading conducting role, with Jessica Zuk leading Brahms’ Nänie. While Jessica previously has conducted both Zelman Symphony and Melbourne Bach Choir, this concert will be her first time leading both orchestra and a large 95 voice choir together in performance.
With both Melbourne Bach Choir and Zelman Symphony sounding better than ever, and with three world class soloists, this will be one of those ‘not to be missed’ events.
Soloists
Helena Dix, Soprano
Belinda Paterson, Mezzo Soprano
Warwick Fyfe, Bass