Bonhoeffer Project

Artists
Sydney Chamber Choir
Sam Allchurch | Conductor
Ensemble Nobiles

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two and the death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an influential Lutheran theologian. Arrested by the Nazis in 1943, he was executed on 9 April 1945.

In this concert, we collaborate with award-winning German male-voice quintet Ensemble Nobiles to present a thought-provoking musical tribute to Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Ensemble Nobiles has commissioned composers from Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the UK and the USA to set to music texts written by Bonhoeffer while imprisoned, interleaved between the movements of a new Mass setting.

We give the world premiere of the complete work in Sydney before joining the Gewandhaus Choir as well as choirs from Melbourne and the UK for a performance of this landmark program in the famous Gewandhaus in Leipzig in May.

This is deeply affecting music that speaks to the importance of our shared humanity.

Program

Paul Heller (Germany)
Mass Dietrich B

David Hamilton (NZ)
Heiliger Geist (Holy Spirit)

Matthew Harris (USA)
Morning Prayer

Sandra Milliken (Australia)
Herr Jesus Christus (Lord Jesus Christ)

Alec Roth (UK)
Die Ruhe der Nacht (The Peace of the Night)

Manfred Schenker (Germany)
Von guten Mächten (By Gracious Powers Protected)