The “Lamb of God,” a nondenominational musical production that retells Christ’s ministry, crucifixion and resurrection through music and spoken word, will fill Abravanel Hall March 15-16.
More than 270 performers including the Witness Music Symphony Orchestra and Choir will take the stage in a work that seeks to be to Easter what Handel’s “Messiah” is for Christmas.
The concert is the brainchild of technology entrepreneur Garin Hess, who sang “Lamb of God” with renowned composer, Rob Gardner, at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in 2011. At the time, Hess was dealing with deep personal struggles, and the music brought the first flicker of light and hope he’d felt in years.
“You cannot experience this music without being left with a feeling of enduring hope, no matter what challenges you are facing,” he said.
The experience had such a profound effect on Hess that he founded Witness Music with the intent to produce “Lamb of God” along the Wasatch Front and beyond. Last year, the group performed at the Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork. Although nearly all performers are volunteers, they each bring with them years of musical and stage training.
Actor Marvin Payne will narrate for the second year in a row. Payne, too, said he shares a belief in the healing power of the music in its message about Christ.
“We hear bits of it and think, woah, that’s how I feel!’ or wait, this is how I always wanted to feel!'” Payne said. “We feel the occasional stab of desire’ for the beauty of heaven. C. S. Lewis calls that experience joy.'”
Tickets are available via ArtTix (https://www.arttix.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=9677). More information is online at https://www.LambOfGodSLC.org/
Garin HessMarch 11, 2013
@ Frans Thank you for that insightful comment about Handel's Messiah being performed at Easter during Handel's time. That is quite interesting. It would be an interesting history to understand how it came to be almost exclusively performed at Christmas time in our world today. @ Jeff Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm. I consider this to be the most profound sacred music I have encountered in more than 20 years. @John I wish I could be there to see the performances in the Bay area. It is a great multi-denominational tradition you have going there!
John AydelotteMarch 9, 2013
It would to note that this particular performance is not the only one being done. This is an annual event in the San Francisco Bay Area performed by the The Temple Hill Choir at the Interstake Center in Oakland.. Three performances, a matinee and evening performance on Saturday And an evening performance on Easter sUnday. Other performances wii be done by the Choir at St. Marys Cathedral in San Francisco and at the cathedral near Lake Merrit in Oakland. Ticckets are free annd are available on line.