Jess Dandy

Eternity in an Hour

‘What is here may be found elsewhere; what is not here is nowhere at all.’

Indian and Western philosophies converse in this recital, in a fusion of cultures, perspectives and soundscapes. Commissioned for The Oxford Lieder Festival, Indian- American composer Reena Esmail’s settings of Sanskrit verses from the Bhagavad Gita draw out the essence of Vedantic thought, and are interspersed with music from the canon of Lied repertoire, highlighting the ways in which Western and Eastern philosophies converge and diverge. Two outstanding artists join forces for this unique reimagining of India’s most celebrated and influential scripture, and its fascinating relationship with European poetry and music.

Benjamin Britten: Proverb VII,Op. 74 No.13 from Songs and Proverbs of William Blake
Reena Esmail: Gayatri Mantra
Johannes Brahms: Verzagen, Op. 72 no.4
John Dowland: In darkness let me dwell
Johannes Brahms: O wüßt ich doch den Weg zurück, Op. 63 no.8
Benjamin Britten: Batter my heart three person'd God; for, you, from The Holy Sonnets of John Donne
Hugo Wolf: Alles endet, was entstehet, from Drei Gedichte von Michaelangelo
Franz Schubert: Auf dem Wasser zu singen D774
Olivier Messiaen: Répétition planétaire, from Harawi (Chant d'amour et de mort)
Elizabeth Poston: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Franz Schubert: Auflösung D807
Hugo Wolf: An die Geliebte No. 32, from Mörike-Lieder