"Angels Unawares", the Divine New Oratorio by DR and Sir James MacMillan

As you may well have seen from some of the wonderful media coverage in not only Italy but also the UK, Canada and the US, last Sunday evening saw the first performance of the long-anticipated and oft-spoken about Angels Unawares, the new oratorio by Sir James MacMillan and Dean Robert. It is an absolutely stunning piece of work by both and I could not have been more delighted after all the excitement and anticipation.

The location was the Sistine Chapel on a cool Sunday evening. There had been threats of storms but the rains by then had passed in Rome and the most lovely sunset filled the skies as the assembled guests started filing in through the Bronze Doors, the excitement of the morning’s marathon still filling the streets and St Peter’s Square, the joy and pride of the runners and their supporters palpable.

The Swiss Guard looking resplendent in their finery as they lined the stunning route of Bernini’s Scala Regia, the monumental staircase making me feel glad that I had spent the week before walking a pilgrimage of sorts through the Cinque Terre, little knowing that when I was scaling the mountains of Liguria I was in fact just in training for the entrance to the Sistine Chapel!

The elegant beauty of the halls above, as many of you will doubtless know, are unrivalled in their craftsmanship and it was a wonderful place for the guests to assemble, to be greeted by the person whose vision had given birth to this work, John Studzinski of the Genesis Foundation, and our wonderful host for the evening, His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, to mingle before going through to the chapel.

I have to confess that I would have been perfectly content spending all evening just wandering the spaces and enjoying the extraordinary beauty of the painting. For me, naturally, the most intense enjoyment came from the scenes of the animals and birds:

And there was even a Jay which, along with the budgie - because of my chattiness, was the bird DR always associated me with - whilst he of course was very much an owl with his calm wisdom!

It was a lovely thing that even though the evening, given the nature of the hallowed and precious location, was naturally an approved list of personal guests of the charities involved, so many of those attending were old friends and most had shared time with us both in the Deanery over the years so it really was a trip – or many trips – down memory lane and a special opportunity to share memories of home, of the animals, of Dean Robert.

Nerves were high for many of us involved directly and indirectly in the production of the work and how it might be received. Although I had of course an intimate knowledge of the script, having assisted DR in the edit and transcribing of the words back in ’23, like most there I had not heard any of the music. My eager anticipation and excitement were as acute as my trepidation – as DR’s last composed piece, this work matters particularly to me.

From the opening chords of The Exile from Eden, the famous Michaelangelo depiction of the scene directly above me on the ceiling, through the twelve verses of varying pace and mood to DR's deliberately poignant and cursory closing of lines of John’s Vision of the Tree of Life "bringing peace for the healing of the nations of the Earth", James takes us on a wonderful and wonder-filled journey of discovery - and does not spare us!

To say the piece is an emotional rollercoaster is an understatement. The magic of DR’s words in combination with the music of one of the World’s best living composers is a perfect storm to create an assault of the senses – which is exactly what James has achieved. His clever juxtaposition of movements, sometimes deliberately and shockingly jarring and sometimes harmoniously leading one more gently onwards and inwards is a triumph and one which demands of the listener every emotion, every thought for this work is no easy merry-go-round but one which expects your attention unashamedly and connects viscerally to your faith! It is also one which, because of the writings, takes us liturgically through much of the Christian year.

Feverish torrents crashing into and over rocks suddenly bring you to calm still waters of profound contemplation and then back again into all-consuming rapids. James' musical brilliance and experience breathes a rude vitality into the elegant cadence of DR's libretto and the combination creates a spark of new life. Fingers touching from across the plains. Wails of Mary’s grief of such gut-wrenching rawness, skillfully delivered as part of a note-perfect performance by soprano Elizabeth Watts. The extraordinary amusement and humour of Nathaniel’s call, delivered by our other equally sublimely-voiced soloist for the evening, tenor Matthew McKinney.

Personally it was a joy to see how well James had captured so much of DR’s character, so much of the deep theology and magnificent brilliance of his words, but also had felt free to create a piece of music as monumental and as colourful, as exquisitely beautiful as the surrounds in which this first performance took place. The result is a piece which both combines and harmonises their extraordinary and unmatched talents but also leaves space for each to shine.

The gloss, of course, was added by Harry Christophers and his splendid Sixteen. I have had the honour and intense pleasure of seeing Harry and the choir perform on so many occasions but never have I seen such a tour de force, such an emotionally-led and charged manifestation of musical magic which, along with the matchless Britten Sinfonia, cast a spell over everyone present.

Whether it was the spirit of DR or the unparallelled surrounds or the extraordinary brilliance of the piece and the perfect performance of such sublimely-talented singers and musicians under the baton of one the absolute best – probably a combination of all of these! – but all in attendance were agreed that this was indeed an evening the likes of which does not come often, even in that most celebrated and elevated of chapels.

It was apt that the birth into the world of such an important and timeless piece on the subject of Angels should have been surrounded by so many in the ceilings acting out some of the stories pictorially. How very fitting that this first performance should indeed take place under the timeless scene of a first Creation. It was true too, as many remarked after, that the veil between Earth and Heaven was indeed very thin that evening with those from beyond being right there beside us to enjoy the festivities, one in particular.

Personally it was difficult not to feel quite bemused - and amused - by the incongruous disconnection from the writing of the piece, most of which took place by the fireside or little terrace on warmer days of the cottage of our dear friends Stephen and Judy Cox in Shropshire or at Yonsea with Chris and Martin. All was intimate. All was peaceful. All was domestic and, save the occasionally darting Lilly trying to get our attention when she tired of sleeping on our laps, all was calm. And then here we all are, almost all, in the splendid setting of the Sistine Chapel hearing the words being brought to life with James’ composition. Surreal, yes, but also so utterly sublime! For this was a night of contradiction, of deliberate and wanton provocation. A nice touch that would have meant nothing to anyone but to Robert or to me was the chorus of birds surrounding us on Sunday in the lovely paintings which stood in for the ones which had surrounded and encouraged us during the creation of the poetry, particularly in Shropshire, filling our heads with song of a different kind as DR's elegant script formed on the pages.

A fitting opus to one who was a giant amongst us. I will always be so grateful to all who brought this magic down from Heaven. Most special thanks go to James MacMillan for the gift of his music and his care of DR, but also and similarly to Harry Christophers and his wonderful choir, not forgetting Marie-Sophie Willis and her team at the Sixteen who work so tirelessly to make everything happen behind the scenes. Thanks also to the extraordinary musicians of the Britten Sinfonia whose playing was surely as great as any on the celestial plain – and fiendishly difficult in places, not that you would have noticed by their genius dexterity! Awe and gratitude in equal measure for Elizabeth and Matthew’s star turns – and gosh did they bring their all! – and of course to John Studzinski, Harriet Capaldi and their team at the Genesis Foundation for not only the vision but also all the encouragement and support throughout the process. Deep and profound thanks also to His Eminence Vincent Nichols and the team at the Vatican for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.

It may be that you have already found the performance online – it featured on the Vatican’s Youtube channel and Vatican TV amongst other broadcasters – but I thought you might like to know that the recording of the evening will be broadcast on Palm Sunday evening (this coming Sunday) at 7.30pm UK on BBC Radio 3 (and on the BBC Sounds App!) and there will also be a UK Premiere at the Cadogan Hall, London, on 2nd June – the tickets are available, though selling fast, on the Cadogan Hall website: www.cadoganhall.com

For those of you wishing to follow the performance on Sunday, or indeed online, I have provided DR’s script for you to follow, should you wish to do so, which is below.

I hope the stunning music of James, the sublime poetic verse of DR and the outstanding performances of the musicians will bring you even a piece of the joy it has brough to me and help you, like me, to feel that bit closer to the friend we all miss so very much, Dean Robert.

“Angels Unawares”

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”

Hebrews XIII 2

I. The Exile from Eden

The glory of Creation once was sung

By angel choirs rejoicing in God’s work,

Their music filled the blue expanse of sky

And brought sweet harmony to light on Earth.

Unfolding through the long slow beat of time

From Heaven to Earth an easy traffic passed.

Angelic forms the paths of Eden traced

Keeping good company with humankind,

Till Satan as a serpent discord wrought

With apple from the Tree of Knowledge brought,

Causing an exile from that garden fair.

With flaming swords the mighty Cherubim

Guarded the pathway to the Tree of Life.

II. Abraham and the Three Visitors

In noontide shade beneath the Mamre Oak

The Patriarch rests and muses in the heat,

His old eyes sheltered from the desert sun

Perceive a movement in the shimmering light

And in his resting mind perception forms

Awakening certainty of guests divine.

The old man runs as best he can and bows

Beseeching these strange guests to be refreshed,

With hospitality set out beneath the trees,

Water to wash their feet and food and drink,

Before continuing on their unknown quest.

This Visitation brought a gift divine,

News of a ‘Child of Promise’ now received.

Two angels sat with Abraham and ate

He realised that God was in the third.

That done they rose to go, the promise given.

The Lord Himself stayed with the Patriarch

To make His purpose for His servant clear.

The two angelic beings must go on

In awful judgement of the Cities of the Plain.

III. Jacob and the Ladder Reaching to Heaven

Through barren desert lands was Jacob sent,

Through unknown countries on a holy quest,

Sent by his father, there to find a bride

Among the daughters of his father’s kin.

Night fell upon his journey and he stopped

To make his bed alone in strange terrain.

Stones lay around him sharp and keen and rough,

Save one much smoother as a pillow set.

He lay to sleep, his mind alive with fears,

Alone and nervous of his brother’s wrath.

Then as he slept he dreamed a vivid dream,

A ladder stood beside him where he lay,

Its top reached way up into heav’n itself

And angels were descending to the Earth

As though conveying all the grace of Heav’n

And soothing mind and body as he slept.

But more than this, they took his thoughts and prayers

Ascending by each rung to God most high

Who leaned from heaven to bless him with a gift,

The land where now he lay and slept and dreamed.

By him would nations of the Earth be blessed

And God would see these promises fulfilled.

So Jacob woke and knew this awesome place,

The Gate of Heaven where angels came and went

Bringing God’s promises to him on Earth

Returning with new prayers to Heaven sent.

IV. The Song of Tobias

How could I not have known?

The angel walked beside my every step

And calmed my fears and cheered my nervous heart.

I took him as a simple human friend.

How could I not have known?

By Tigris I obeyed his strict command

To take the fish and save its inward parts

For healing and protection in our quest.

How could I not have known?

He brought me to my father’s cousin’s house

Whose stricken daughter was to be my bride,

His action freed her from the demon’s curse.

How could I not have known?

Returning home, blessed with abundant wealth,

And Heaven’s gift of Sara, my new bride,

He once again instructed me for good.

How could I not have known?

My father’s eyes he told me then to heal,

His happiness to me was Heaven’s gift.

My friend came in and stood before us then.

How could I not have known?

And only then, shining with Heaven’s light,

Declared himself the Archangel Raphael

Before he vanished straightway from our sight.

To God be glory everlasting day and night

The dog, I felt, had known it all along.

How could I not have known?

V. Elijah and the Still Small Voice

Fresh from Mount Carmel and his contest there,

Confronted by the rage of Jezebel,

Elijah fled, his heart now full of fear,

To desert places south of Judah’s land

Beyond the borders of cruel Ahab’s realm.

Defeated and exhausted he sat down

Beneath the shelter of a Juniper

And there he begged the Lord that he might die.

Alone and in despair he lay and slept

His life seemed over and its purpose gone

Until awakened by an angel’s touch

And voice which said to him, “Arise and eat!”

He saw a cake fresh-baked on glowing coals

And pitcher full of water freshly drawn.

He ate and drank and felt his strength return.

Once more he slept and once more felt the touch

And heard the angel’s voice, “Arise and eat

Or else the Way will be too far for you!”

Again he ate and drank, then rose and walked

For forty days to Horeb, Mount of God,

Where was a cave to shelter in and rest.

This time he heard his name, “Elijah!”, called

By stronger angel’s voice, “What brings you here?”

He said, “I have been jealous for the Lord

But now this faithless people seek my life”.

“Go, stand before the Lord”, the voice replied

And on the mount the Lord passed by in wind,

In storm, in earthquake and in mighty fire.

Then came a still small voice which said to him,

“Return upon your Way”. It was the Lord:

“Once more renew your task, but not alone.

Go, find Elisha. Call him from the plough.

He will complete the work which you do now.”

VI. Ezekiel’s Vision

By Babylon’s waters we sat down and wept,

I and my people far from our own land.

For five and twenty years we dreamed of home

And of our ruined Temple all restored.

Beside the River Chebar’s flowing course

An angel in my vision came to me

And showed me our own Temple now restored.

But from the East, towards the rising sun,

Fresh waters from the altar flowed quite free;

We stood outside and watched the river flow.

The angel with a measuring line at hand

Caused me to walk a thousand cubits east.

The river swelled and now was ankle deep,

A thousand more and water reached our knees

And then beyond it grew too deep to cross.

But where the river flowed all life would thrive.

Trees grew where barren deserts were before,

Fish filled its waters, creatures of all kinds

Inhabited its banks, and in its reeds

Birds nested safe, for where the river came

Waters which had been poisonous were made fresh.

“And it shall come to pass”, the angel said,

“That where the river flows lands will be healed,

And on its banks the trees will bear their fruits.

Their leaves will never fade and month by month

New fruit will ripen and all creatures feed.

The leaves shall be for healing and for strength,

For where the river flows all life shall thrive.”

VII. Gabriel’s Message

First to the old priest, Zechariah by name,

The angel Gabriel with God’s message came

Of child who would be born and blessed by God.

At which the old man questioned Heav’n’s intent

And Gabriel struck him speechless from that hour,

For Heaven’s messenger must be believed.

Elizabeth conceived within her womb

And in the sixth month Gabriel came again

This time to Nazareth, to Mary there,

She would conceive and bear her first-born son.

Like sunlight through the magnifying lens

Of Mary’s heart the angel’s message came,

Quick kindling from the earthy tinder there

The brightness of a new celestial flame.

“How can this be, I am a virgin”, Mary said.

“This work is of the Spirit”, he replied,

“Your son shall be called holy, Son of God”.

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord”, she said,

“According to your word, let it be so”.

The angel left her then and she alone

Felt need of one to share and comprehend

The deep abundant joy which filled her heart.

She travelled then to see Elizabeth

Whose understanding soul proclaimed her blessed.

And Mary glorified the Lord and thus rejoiced

In God’s own plan the angel had proclaimed

And sang aloud “Magnificat” clear voiced.

VIII. Temptation in the Wilderness

In desert place the Fallen Angel lies

Waiting with mask of light and tempting tongue,

So subtly with temptations fair and apt

To lure the righteous from the path of light.

Thus with temptations honed and shaped unique

The Tempter stole upon the Word made flesh,

Stealing into the heart of his intent

To give Himself for sake of humankind.

Thoughts which deny the true humanity

And offer painless ease, fame, glory, power

With words of scripture shaped by Satan’s tongue

But met each time and countered and seen off.

Until at last the false one was despatched

And angels came to minister instead,

Arming the Son of Man with Heaven’s gifts,

“Get thee behind me Satan!” said with force.

But words like these must needs see constant use,

Temptations came even from the Apostle’s tongue

Ere victory at Golgotha was won.

IX. The Song of Nathanael

Beneath the green-leaved fig tree I would pray,

Beside the shore of Galilee’s great sea,

When fishing nets were mended for that day

And shelter needed from the noontide heat.

‘Twas there that Philip called me and I came

Smiling at the fantastic claim he made

For Jesus from unlikely Nazareth that day.

“What good could come from there?” it seemed to me.

He brought me on Bethsaida’s homely shore

Amidst the places we had known since birth

And stood me in the compass of His gaze

Who likewise smiled and with amusement said,

“Behold an Israelite who knows no guile!”

“How do you know me?” cried my beating heart.

“I saw you ‘neath the fig tree”, He replied.

I knew Him then to be the One we sought.

“You are the Son of God and Israel’s King!”

The words came out unmasked from deep within.

“You say that?” He replied, still with surprise,

“Because I said I saw you in the shade,

Beneath the fig tree’s leaves? You shall see more –

See open Heavens and angels sent from God

Ascend and descend on the Son of Man!”

My eyes were opened and new life began.

X. The Song of Mary of Magdala

“I watched life slowly drain upon the Cross

And felt the darkness once more fill my mind,

That ancient darkness, hopeless and profound,

Which His own words of life had freed me from

When mind was filled with Light and heart with Love.

Now it returned, and blotted out that Light

As Life and Love hung dying on the cross.

I watched as Joseph led with tender care

The broken, bleeding body taken down,

Laid carefully in his own sepulchre

And sealed with one huge stone to mark An End.

The darkness once more filled my tortured mind,

Twisted with grief that endless Sabbath day,

Till with the dawn, the first day of the week,

I felt impelled to journey to the tomb.

I found it open, wounded body gone,

Even a place to grieve Him was denied.

In panic, anger, hopelessness I ran,

Ran to the men whom He had called His friends.

Who came and saw, as I, an empty tomb

Then left me in the garden all alone.

The morning sunshine mocked at my despair.

Yet, through my tears, I sensed a presence there,

The dark tomb seemed to shine with Heaven’s Light,

A Light quite other than the morning sun,

That spoke of hope, of promises reborn.

Two angels gently asked me why I wept,

Their words of comfort causing me to turn;

The morning sun now shining with new Light.

I heard a voice which simply called my name.

I knew Him then, as Love and Hope returned,

“Rabboni”, I replied. All would be well.

XI. The Song of Peter

That Passover when Herod had James slain

He sent armed men to capture me as well.

Cast into prison, guarded day and night,

Bound with two heavy chains I sleepless lay.

After the Feast it was the King’s intent

To bring me forth before the hostile crowds

For judgement to be made against my life,

And so for this myself I now prepared.

Meanwhile the faithful followers of the Way,

Hidden behind locked doors prayed urgently,

Though after James’s death but little hope

Of my release was in their frightened hearts.

The night before th’intended judgement day

I lay, thus chained, between two prison guards,

Awaiting in the darkness certain death.

A light shone in the cell and I then felt

A touch upon my side as chains fell off

And some new presence raised me to my feet.

A voice of comfort then I heard which said,

“Take shoes and garments now and follow me”.

I followed on, still thinking this a dream,

As inner gate and outer opened wide

And in the moonlit street I found myself.

At which the angel took his silent leave.

I knew then, with a certainty past doubt,

The Lord had sent His angel to my aid,

The task was mine now to seek out my friends,

Full of new hope, undaunted, unafraid.

XII. The Vision of John

Behold a door was opened into Heav’n.

I heard the voice of angels round the throne.

Ten thousand times ten thousand and far more,

Too numerous to count them as they sang

Of blessing, honour, glory, power and might,

Salvation to the One upon the throne.

I saw a mighty angel clothed in cloud

A rainbow shone bright colour round his head,

His face was like the sun, his feet like fire.

And there was war in Heaven as Michael fought

With all his angels ‘gainst the rebel host

Of Satan and his angels who fought back.

Defeated by th’Archangel’s mighty force

And cast out for eternity from Heav’n

The battle now would rage upon the Earth.

I saw then a new Heaven and new Earth.

One of the seven angels came and said,

“Come now and I will show you many things”,

He showed me the pure water of new life

As clear as crystal flowing from the throne.

And there beside the stream the Tree of Life,

And from the branches hung twelve kinds of fruit

Its healing leaves bring gifts of precious worth

Of peace to heal the nations of the Earth.

"Angels Unawares", the Divine New Oratorio by DR and Sir James MacMillan

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