“It quickly became clear this was a masterpiece that needed to be brought to life.”
An unperformed opera by “holy minimalist” composer Sir John Tavener will receive its first performance, thanks in part to the advocacy of Prince Charles.
Tavener, who rose to prominence with “The Whale,” released on The Beatles’ Apple Records label in 1970, converted to Russian Orthodoxy in 1977. Liturgical elements became increasingly important in his music, which frequently bears a mystical stamp. He achieved genuine popularity with meditative works like “The Protecting Veil,” for cello and orchestra.
It was Benjamin Britten who convinced Covent Garden to commission Tavener’s first opera, “Thérèse,” which treats the story of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux. Tavener’s “Song for Athene” was performed at the funeral of Princess Diana. In 2000, he was awarded a knighthood for his services to music. Another one of his most frequently performed works – and most concise – is “The Lamb,” after the poem of William Blake.
Later in life, Tavener sought to become more universalist and began to explore Hinduism and Islam. “Krishna” was completed in 2005. Plagued by ill health throughout his adulthood, he died in 2013 at the age of 69. His final opera is set for a 2024 premiere.
Tavener’s “Song of the Angel”
“The Lamb”
“The Protecting Veil”
