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Outstanding Music By Arvo Pärt at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Entering the ethereal, timeless space of the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday night last was like walking into another universe. Suddenly separated from the reality of Manhattan noises and enveloped by this sacred space of ritual which once stood above the Nile River built-in 15 B.C., at the behest of the Roman Emperor Augustus. The audience gathered to hear compositions of the celebrated Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Honoring the rededication of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and the National Shrine at Ground Zero, O Holy Father Nicholas commissioned by Nektarios S. Antoniou for the Schola Cantorum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was performed by the magnificent Artefact Ensemble under the direction of outstanding Grammy-nominated choral conductor Benedict Sheehan. Grammy Award-winning James Blachly conducted the superb Soloists from Experiential Orchestra. Michelle Ross’s playing of Fratres on violin brought the room into a sublime state of meditation with its lingering melodious tones of grace. Vater Unser performed by countertenor Eric S. Brenner was utter beauty instilled in song.
Fotina Naumenko and Jolle Greenleaf, soprano Tynan Davis and Helen Karloski, alto Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten were amazingly angelic. The entire program was flawless.
Like any true New Yorker or visiting culturally spiritual patron of the arts, I felt that rarified beam of haunting beauty permeating the room. Where once the offering to the Gods might have been a calf, on this night, it was the spirit of the musical geniuses that brought everyone closer to the highest form of tribute one can share to the sacred gift of life. O Holy Father, Nicholas is a triumph. This stunning, spot-on performance of musical masterpieces was like the candlelit water reflecting off the magnificent glass windows of the exhibition hall boasting absolute sublimity. So deep were the compositions and poignant that the music fell on all who heard it like the rain after a dry summer.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art always presents outstanding works, and this bit of Dendurian, Arvo Pärt magic took us away to a place we all live to go. This performance will stick in my memory as one of the exquisite moments that only can be experienced in this incredible metropolis of culture and art where we endlessly put up with “whatever” to share such an unforgettable catch in time.
