Acclaimed Oratorio "The Light of Christianity" by Panayoti Karousos at Concordia University

 Acclaimed Oratorio "The Light of Christianity" by Panayoti Karousos Headline Spring Benefit Concert in Montreal

Friday 30 April 2010, Loyola Chapel - Faculty of Music - Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada   

The Chapel Community at Loyola Campus Musicients and Choir

directed by Johanne Patry and Thomas Leslie

Soloists: Johanne Patry (mezzo-soprano), Karine Bouchard (violin),

William Larivière (violoncello), Hugh Cawker (piano).

MONTREAL, CANADA — The historic Loyola Chapel at Concordia University became the stage for a profound musical union of heritage and philanthropy during the seasonal classical showcase, SUMER IS ICUMEN IN! The evening was anchored by the North American presentation of "The Light of Christianity", a landmark oratorio by renowned Greek-Canadian composer Panayoti Karousos.

Performed by a premier chamber ensemble, the concert successfully raised vital funds to support the Kilembe Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A Philosophical and Spiritual Masterpiece

"The Light of Christianity" serves as the monumental fourth chapter of Karousos’s broader Greek Epic Tetralogy: The Dawn of Civilization. Built around the central motif of an evolving, historic "flame," the libretto traces a line from the mystical fire of Prometheus Bound, through the pan-human ideals of the Olympic Flame, to the global expansion under Alexander the Great.

In this concluding installment, Karousos explores the transition of the sacred ancient flame into the purifying light of the Christian faith. Musically, the piece bridges the classical prosody of ancient Greek drama with the rich traditions of Byzantine hymnology, offering a rare look at the shared philosophical lineage of Hellenic thought and Orthodox spirituality.

The Montreal presentation featured powerful segments from the work, including pieces like Lamentation of Virgin Mary, The Passion of the Christ, and The Descent from the Cross (Apokathelosis).

The Performance and Production

The performance highlighted a talented ensemble featuring mezzo-soprano Johanne Patry, violinist Karine Bouchard, cellist William Larivière, and pianist Hugh Cawker. Co-directed by Patry and tenor Thomas Leslie, the broader program blended Karousos’s compositions with classical works by Mozart, Copland, Duruflé, and Dowland, supported by volunteer vocalists and instrumentalists.

Music with a Mission: Support for Kilembe

Organized with the Chapel Community at the Loyola Campus, donations from the event directly aided Sr. Margaret Jacques's mission at Kilembe Hospital. The raised funds help sustain critical operations in an isolated region, including pharmacy supplies, malnutrition relief, medical equipment maintenance, and solar utility installations for clean water and electricity.

https://ra.co/events/161296