“A Mother’s Sorrow” Concert, Madeira

At the outset of Lent, this contemplative musical meditation featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Christina Hazen and string orchestra centers on two strikingly contrasting settings of the Stabat Mater, the ancient 13th-century hymn that recalls the suffering of the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross. The first setting, by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, is a luminous jewel of the late baroque, unfolding in aching beauty through the intertwined lines of the vocal duo. In contrast, we hear the setting by Julia Perry, a devout Roman Catholic composer from Lexington, KY, and Akron, OH, who was one of the first Black American women to conduct major European orchestras. Her searing, powerful 20th-century Stabat Mater brings a bold, modern voice to Mary’s pain, a profound reflection on the mystery of suffering, and the enduring faith of the Mother of Sorrows.

Part of the St. Gertrude 2025-26 Sacred Music Series​
Tickets: General Admission $25; Student $10 (with valid ID); Children under 12 free. Maximum $60 per family.