Budding composer makes it to the Opera House
Budding Sydney composer Sam Weiss – just 28 years old – was among the composers whose works were performed at a spectacular concert held in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall last night.
The featured artists were: The Sydney Children’s Choir, Gondwana National Choir, New Zealand Youth Choir and Hunter Singers
Lyn Williams – the Artistic Director – founded the Sydney Children’s Choir and Gondwana Voices and is regarded as one of the finest conductors of choirs around the world.
Sam had been selected as the Composer in Residence for the Sydney Children’s Choir for 2020 in conjunction with the Sydney Jewish Museum. He wrote a number of works to be performed by the Choir – two of which were performed again at this concert.
The first – There are always miracles- was inspired by the late Eddie Jaku – who at the age of 100 -wrote his memoir “The Happiest Man on Earth” – which went on to become an award-winning international best seller.
Sam’s lyrics are reflective of Eddie Jaku’s approach to life as expressed in his book – after surviving the horrors of the Holocaust.
Sam wrote the song before Eddie’s death and a video presentation featuring the Sydney Children’s Choir was performed at Eddie’s State Memorial held on 15 December 2021 attended by the Premier of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet.
The performance last night by the Sydney Children’s choir with its young innocence and beautiful voices – the Voices of Angels – as the program described them – was truly uplifting.
The second item –In’Shal-Om –was orchestrated by Sam at Lynn Williams’s request and was. performed with a sixteen piece orchestra that contained 6 Violins, 3 Violas, 2 Cellos, a Double Bass, Harp, Flute, Clarinet and Percussion.
In’Shal-Om is a prayer of peace, harmony, respect and compassion – written in four languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Latin and Sanskrit. It features portion of the Azan (Islamic call to prayer), the Shema and Oseh Shalom, Latin doxologies from Catholic services and Sanskrit chants.
Sam Weiss pictured with his parents Greg and Debbi Weiss at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for the performance of two of his compositions at the Voices of Angels 2022 concert
According to Sam: “These prayers have incredible crossovers in meaning across four languages and their uses in religious services”
The Voices of Angels orchestra for last night’s world premier was led by Helena Rathbone –Principal Violin with the Australian Chamber Orchestra since 1994.
The rapturous applause that greeted this world first performance was testament to Sam’s arrival on the international stage.
Sam’s compositions were performed among songs composed by Benjamin Britten, Edward Elgar, William J Kirkpatrick and John Rutter.
Sam holds an Honours Degree in Music (Film Composition) from UNSW, where he studied under some of Sydney’s top composers: Dr John Peterson, Nicholas Vines, Andrew Scott, Alister Spence and Sandy Evans.
Another world premiere performance was featured – Hope is the Thing with Feathers –written by Jessica Wells and commissioned by Gondwana Choirs for Voices of Angels 2022. Its rollicking and happy sounds will ensure it is performed by many choirs around the world.
{Disclosure: The author is Sam’s proud grandfather]
