Soprano Siobhan Stagg and pianist Jonathan Ware present a concert tracing creation stories across a millennium of music, from Hildegard von Bingen to Medtner, at UKARIA Cultural Centre on 2 October 2026.
Chamberfest presents Origins, a concert curated by pianist Jonathan Ware that weaves creation mythology through a thousand years of Western classical music. The program opens with Hildegard von Bingen's plainchant and moves through Fauré's La Chanson d'Ève, which retells the genesis story from Eve's perspective, alongside a lesser-known Mozart piece exploring faith and conviction. Soprano Siobhan Stagg performs throughout, threading these narratives together with her voice.
After a 25-minute interval, the second half opens with a ghostly a cappella passage before approaching Haydn's Creation. Brett Dean's brief evolution cantata In This Brief Moment responds directly to Haydn's vision. Sibelius's Luonnotar delivers a Finnish mythological tale set in primordial waters, while two songs by piano virtuoso Nikolai Medtner complete the arc. Ware developed this program during lockdown and has already premiered it at Berlin's Pierre Boulez Saal and London's Wigmore Hall.
The concert employs candlelight, music boxes, and layered vocal textures to create an immersive atmosphere exploring how music marks time and transmits cultural understanding. Tickets are $80 for adults, $75 concession, and $40 for under-40s. The performance runs 1 hour 45 minutes on Friday 2 October 2026 at 7:30 PM.
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