After Friedrich Nietzsche famously proclaimed the death of God back in the 1880s, can there be Sacred Music today? The Theatinerkirche München has commissioned the award winning Oxford Composer Alexander Campkin (St Catherine’s College 2002) to tackle the question.
Earlier this month (October 13-14th) saw the long-awaited World Premiere of Alexander Campkin’s new mass “Missa Magister Bone” and OUS Munich was delighted to co-host this unique event at the Theatinerkirche. Prior to the World Premiere on Sunday, OUS Munich Members had the opportunity to join for an exclusive soirée, where the opus was presented to an audience for the first time. The artist’s talk, which was chaired by P. Robert Mehlhart (Director of Music at Theatinerkirche – Blackfriars 2006) and Annemarie Grandke (Club Secretary OUS Munich – New College 2004) was most enlightening and offered plenty of space for captivating teasers of the new piece. After that, over 20 Oxonians joined Alexander Campkin and the brothers of Theatinerkirche at the Pfälzer Weinstube for a congenial evening and some further musical debate.
The World Premiere on Sunday, October 14th then indeed surpassed all expectations. As truly moving as powerful in effect, “Missa Magister Bone” swept the audience off their feet. An overwhelming success for all those involved.
Campkin studied Music at the University of Oxford, where he was Choral Scholar, Assistant Organ Scholar, and conductor of the Oxford Chamber Choir and Arcadian Singers of Oxford University.
The Soirée with Alexander Campkin was recorded by the Bayerischer Rundfunk and will be broadcast on November 5th at Bayern 2 (9pm CET). Download the podcast.