Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Woman, Behold Thy Son! … Son, Behold Thy Mother!
Verily, I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with me
in Paradise.
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
I thirst.
It is finished.
Father, into Thy hands I commend my Spirit.

From these seven sets of words flows two thousand years of history, belief and thought. Included in this deep history of contemplation are three musical meditations by Joseph Haydn, Sofia Gubaidulina and James Macmillan brought together over three evenings in this unique project created especially for Melbourne Festival, and complementing Peter Greenaway's Leonardo's Last Supper.

Interlaced with new musical reflections by seven contemporary composers, these performances unfold under a sublime lighting installation by Ben Cobham and Bluebottle in the vast stillness of St Patrick’s Cathedral, a place in which these works and the spiritual message behind them can be appreciated to its fullest.

Program 2
Haydn
“Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ on the Cross ”

Joseph Haydn’s seven adagios for string quartet, here played by seven quartets, dispersed throughout the Cathedral, are interspersed with the world premieres of seven specially commissioned meditations by leading Australian composers.