American composer David Lang’s The Little Match Girl Passion was specially commissioned by Carnegie Hall for Paul Hillier’s Theatre of Voices musical ensemble. In this deeply affecting and highly imaginative choral work, Lang uses texts from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Match Girl”, the Gospel According to Matthew and Picander’s libretto for J. S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion. The work, about a little girl who is forced to sell matches on the street, struck a chord with audiences worldwide and has since been adapted for chamber ensemble and full chorus as well as for the stage.
- Huelgas Ensemble & Paul Van Nevel
- Anthony Marwood, David Goode, Louise Hopkins, Lynsey Marsh, Mary Carewe, Simon Woods, Stephen Farr, Thomas Adès & Valdine Anderson
- Fretwork & Michael Chance
- Elora Festival Singers, Elora Festival Orchestra, Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, Oxford Camerata, David Lloyd-Jones & Jeremy Summerly
- Jordi Savall
- Susanne Van Els, Cappella Amsterdam, MusikFabrik & Daniel Reuss
- Bang on a Can All-Stars & Trio Mediæval