During our upcoming tour to France and Spain, we have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform in both the Notre-Dame de Paris and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. We have designed bespoke programmes for the two venues and will perform both in this concert.

NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS: KE NAKO – IT IS TIME TO BUILD

Within the context of the restoration of the cathedral after the devastating fire in 2019, we have constructed a programme with a theme of restoring and building.

The key work is The time has come by Ēriks Ešenvalds. The text is an excerpt from ex-President Nelson Mandela’s speech at his inauguration as President of the democratic Republic of South Africa. The text reflects the need for South Africans to work together as a nation to build a new world. The wisdom of these words is evidenced in the massive collaboration effort to restore the Notre Dame, which serves as an inspiration to people around the world to act together to achieve success.

We will also perform the Ave Maria by Franz Biebl in recognition of the dedication of the Notre Dame cathedral to Mary and the fact that many Parisians sang an Ave Maria as they watched the fire in the Notre Dame in disbelief and shock.

SAGRADA FAMÍLIA: HOLY GROUND

In June 2026, the Sagrada Família is celebrating the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the main architect of the church, by aiming to complete the main architectural elements of the building. We are extremely privileged to sing in the Mass in the crypt on 3 July, shortly after the centenary celebrations, followed by a concert.

Our programme maps the different façades of the church to sound and relates to Gaudí’ as “God’s architect” and to the Sagrada Família as “the Bible in stone”. The music reflects Gaudí’s legacy of transforming architecture into an immersive, nature-inspired experience. While the title of the programme refers to the Sagrada Família as holy ground, it also calls each one of us to restore ourselves to our authentic selves―each one of us is holy ground. Key works include Dust by Ethan Sperry, If you receive my words by Knut Nystedt and I’ll go alone by Elizabeth Alexander. To quote from Dust: “I will not be complete, but I will be home”. Like the church, we can simultaneously be a masterpiece and a work in progress. The church’s music commission responded very positively to the programme.

We would love to share both programmes with you.