The Armed Man Tickets

Presented by: The Canberra Choral Society and the National Capital Orchestra

The Canberra Choral Society and the National Capital Orchestra are excited to be joining forces again on Saturday 5 July to present two very special contemporary works, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by much loved British composer Sir Karl Jenkins and Human Waves by living legend of Australian classical music, Elena Kats-Chernin AO. This concert, which invokes peace and harmony, will be performed in beautiful Llewellyn Hall, ANU, under the baton of the NCO’s Music Director, Louis Sharpe, with soloists Jillian Halleron (Soprano) and Liam Meany (Cello).

Commissioned for the millennium year by The Royal Armouries, United Kingdom, Sir Karl’s The Armed Man, for SATB choir and orchestra, has been performed throughout the world since its premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2000 and passed its 3000th performance mark in 2024 during Sir Karl’s 80th birthday year. Based on the 15th century French poem L’homme armé, the work remains a powerful and moving reflection on the horror of war and its consequences. This 25th anniversary year performance coincides with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Elena Kats-Chernin says that Human Waves, commissioned as part of Sydney Philharmonia Choir’s centenary program, is one of the larger and more complex works that she has created in her composing career. Written for choir and orchestra, with a libretto by Tamara-Anna Cislowska, the work reflects on the rich legacy of Australia’s migrant history and celebrates our cultural diversity.