2024-25 Concert Season
Karl Jenkins - The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace
The Victoria Philharmonic Choir & Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy join musical forces in
THE ARMED MAN: A MASS FOR PEACE - Karl Jenkins
Saturday June 7, 2025
7.30 pm, Christ Church Cathedral
The final concert of the VPC'S 20th season reflects humanity's long history of conflict, its resilience, and its capacity for hope.
Conductor Peter Butterfield and the choir are honoured to share the stage with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, which is directed by Lt (N) Benjamin Van Slyke.
Marking the 81st anniversary of the D Day landings in Normandy, the musical offerings range from short pieces in the first half of the program to the main work on the program: The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins.
First presented in 2000, the work begins with a 15th century French folk song, L'Homme Armé (the Armed Man) and incorporates inspirations from many cultures and ancient and modern texts. Soloists are Jennifer Turner (soprano), Aidan Johnston (alto), Felix Butterfield (tenor) and Alex Chen (bass).
Tickets are $35 regular / $10 student (plus eventbrite fees) and are available online from Eventbrite. Children under 13 are admitted free and do not require an advance ticket.
Doors will open at 6.45 pm - festival seating.
The VPC is grateful for the support from the CRD Arts & Culture Support Service, and the Victoria Foundation.
Naden Band at Christ Church Cathedral
Comments from VPC’s November 2018 performance of Rutter Requiem and the Lauridsen Lux Aeterna:
“What a wonderful concert! I will become a regular at your choir’s performances.”
“The Requiem was lovely, and haunting, but my favourites were the last two movements of Lux Aeterna when the voices of the singers were let loose and the joy they shared was palpable. A wonderful experience!”
“Thank you for the wonderful treat! You performed difficult music with considerable
panache and great feeling.”
“It was a wonderful concert to perform. When we feel prepared to the point that we can look up from the book and really ‘be’ with Peter in the music, and follow him wherever he decides to go, it’s the best feeling in the world. Requiems are often a bit personal, since many of us are remembering someone we lost. The orchestra was wonderful, from harp to horns and this concert was downright magical in places, with many audience members listening with closed eyes, seemingly quite transfixed!”