the little match girl passion

David Lang’s Pulitzer Prize-winning oratorio

David Lang’s the little match girl passion for four singers and percussion tells the story of a scorned little girl, abused by her own family, who tries to sell matches on New Year’s Eve. She is ignored by passersby, and eventually freezes to death. The piece won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in musical composition.

match girl uses old elements—a classic tale by H.C. Andersen and a structure inspired by Bach’s St. Matthew Passion—to create a modern narrative for those in our community who are most vulnerable to the cold. Its minimalist texture creates a haunting atmosphere, challenging listeners to examine our collective and individual responsibility in fighting homelessness.

Program Notes

1.27.20 | 7:00 pm
Western Presbyterian Church
2401 Virginia Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20037
RSVP

1.28.20 | 12:10 pm
Church of the Epiphany
1317 G St. NW
Washington, DC 20005