UPDATE 24th JUNE 2009. SEE THE REVIEW HERE

Get the echo…

The 23rd of June will have the ethereal saxophone voice of Jan Garbarek with the Hilliard Ensemble echoing sonorously round St. Paul’s Cathedral, as part of the City of London Festival.

Booking is open via the Barbican’s website

Festival Director Ian Ritchie talked to me about it. Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard is tried and tested in what Ritchie calls the “particularly grand and awe-inspiring ambiance” of Wren’s cathedral. This is third visit by these artists to St Pauls.

Here’s the blurb:

“Boldly combining the unique sound of their all-male vocal group with Jan Garbarek’s saxophone-playing, the Hilliard Ensemble’s Officium programmes have become world-famous.
They return to the magnificant surroundings of St Paul’s with a programme of new
material as well as works by two composers who are among the most powerful musical
voices of the north: Scotland’s James MacMillan, and Estonia’s Arvo Pärt.”

Ritchie talked about this year’s Festival’s theme : 60 degrees North. There are leanings towards the maritime… the Nordic, the Baltic, St Petersburg, Estonia, the Northern Isles of Scotland. (Ritchie is a Scot and Kirkwall and references to “59 and a bit” seemed to pepper our conversation…)

Top price is £30 , but there are also seats for just £5. They will no doubt be in places quite a long way away, seats to just wallow in the sound.. with a friend maybe…shut your eyes..and get that echo.

Recommended.