
I’m in the midst of a viewing of the 1996 Théâtre du Châtelet production of the (French language) Don Carlos with a younger Roberto Alagna and Thomas Hampson—he is, oh, so beautiful!—and I will return to this subject shortly.
But for today, on this Good Friday, I thought I’d take a pause in the opera journey to share something a little different: a modern Ave Verum by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. (Fun fact: he is the first Welsh composer to receive a knighthood!) Jenkins is known especially for his Adiemus, Requiem, and The Armed Man: a Mass for Peace. This Ave Verum is, perhaps, my mom’s favorite piece of music. (Thank you, Debra, for finding it!)

One of the unique things about this piece is that it is sung, unconventionally, by two beautiful, brilliant baritones: Simon Keenlyside and Bryn Terfel. (In Bryn’s case, bass-baritone.) To me, their voices blend so exquisitely in this unusual and wounding treasure. I hope you enjoy it!
I will take a post-break for the coming day or two. Thank you for reading! Whether or not you celebrate Easter and the Triduum, I hope your coming days are filled with beauty, and peace.
Lyrics: Ave Verum
(Written by Karl Jenkins)
Ave, verum corpus
Natum de Maria Virgine
Vere passum immolatum
In cruce pro homine
Cujus latus perforatum
Unda fluxit et sanguine,
Esto nobis praegustatum
In mortis examine. Amen.
~ ~ ~
Hail, true body
Born of the Virgin Mary
Who truly suffered, sacrificed
On the cross for man,
Whose pierced side overflowed
With water and blood,
Be for us a foretaste
In the test of death. Amen.
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