Mothers' Day Concert for Notre Dame Cathedral

In response to the terrible fire which recently engulfed Notre Dame de Paris, CBS Choir and Orchestra will present a special 3 pm, 12 May, Mothers’ Day Concert, in which we affirm the importance of Mary, Mother of Jesus and the Church, and patron of Notre Dame in Paris, and our own St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral. This will be a one-hour concert, with free admission, and a retiring collection to be donated entirely to Notre Dame (as CBS did for the Red Cross at a March Concert for Refugees).

Christchurch offerings will not match the millions currently being donated within Paris, but the symbolism of such an event should not be overlooked. CBS Music has a special relationship with Notre Dame. Their choir and orchestra sang the Nelson Mass to a capacity audience, and then a High Mass in 1990, and sang another evening Mass in 2005.

Perhaps we will sing in a re-opened building! Their organist, Johann Vexo has given a recital in our Pro-Cathedral, and wrote to tell us that they are devastated, and are now sharing our local sense of loss.

Choir and orchestra will present the evocative Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine and Franck’s Panis Angelicus. In homage to Notre Dame, the choir will sing from La Messe de Nostre Dame by Machaut, the Arcadelt Ave Maria, and Duruflé Tota Pulchra Es, together with other motets including the vibrant Poulenc Exultate Deo.

Organist Nicholas Sutcliffe will play the popular Carillon De Westminster for organ (written by the blind Notre Dame organist Louis Vierne) and accompany movements from Duruflé’s Messe “Cum Jubilo”. The orchestra will conclude the concert with Mozart’s brilliant and ambitious “Paris” Symphony No. 31. CBS Musical Director is Don Whelan, and the orchestra is led by Natalia M. Lomeiko.

Through this concert, we intend to show that we share the sense of huge cultural loss to our European heritage experienced in Paris, and express our solidarity with faith-based groups, which continue to suffer persecution and unexpected tragedy. All are welcome.