Stabat Mater by Pergolesi in London

On 5th March 2026, within the awe-inspiring Gothic arches of Southwark Cathedral, Red Events presents a luminous London premiere ? Giovanni Battista Pergolesi?s Stabat Mater, performed by the worldwide-acclaimed Belgian ensemble La Chapelle Sauvage under the direction of Karel De Wilde, featuring soprano Abigail Barker and countertenor Gleb Zakharov as soloists. Written in the final weeks of Pergolesi?s life and premiered after his death, Stabat Mater has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful works of the Baroque era ? a piece whose emotional radiance transcends time, faith, and genre. A hymn of sorrow and celestial beauty, it has inspired composers from Bach to Vivaldi, and performers from Montserrat Caball? and Barbara Hendricks to other legendary interpreters as Cecilia Bartoli, Ren?e Fleming, Philippe Jaroussky, Nathalie Stutzmann, and Andreas Scholl ? artists whose performances over the past century have elevated Pergolesi?s masterpiece to the highest international acclaim. Now, in the heart of London?s oldest Gothic cathedral, this profound meditation on compassion and human fragility receives a new, intimate staging ? conceived specifically for the sacred acoustics of Southwark Cathedral. A subtle, carefully crafted lighting design will shape the space throughout the performance, offering a contemporary visual reading that enhances rather than distracts, illuminating the emotional and architectural depth of Pergolesi?s masterpiece. This one-night-only London premiere offers a rare opportunity to experience three sections of Pergolesi?s masterpiece exactly as it would have sounded in his own time ? performed in the authentic Neapolitan church pitch used in 18th-century Naples, in lower, warmer tuning which lends the music a darker, more velvety colour. The concert organised by Red Events & Distribution Ltd. ? the creative agency which makes exceptional cultural events in ancient mansions, on rooftops, in greenhouses and in other most atmospheric venues of Europe, United Kingdom, Georgia, Armenia and other countries. Also in the repertoire ? a collection of concerts by candlelight and with complete immersion in the space of video art and sound. ?? Doors open at least 45 minutes before the concert. If you are late for a concert, you may be offered seats other than the category indicated on your ticket. Follow the instructions of administrators and security. We recommend arriving at concerts in advance. Out of respect for guests and performers, late entry may not be permitted.? ? Duration: approx. 70 minutes (without interval) PROGRAMME Giovanni Battista Pergolesi ? Stabat Mater (Complete performance, approx. 40 minutes) Additional baroque selections by La Chapelle Sauvage will complete the evening PERFORMERS La Chapelle Sauvage is an artistic house with many rooms. It saw light by the impulse of the Belgian conductor Karel De Wilde as a teamwise and international initiative of young professional musicians coming from all over the world. What gathered them is a wild and untameable musical ambition with a contemporary, critical and reflective attitude. Karel de Wilde (director) Karel De Wilde is a versatile artist. He studied piano, organ, harpsichord and double bass at a young age, and then organ, music theory and orchestral conducting at the Royal Conservatories of Ghent and Mons. His compositions were successfully created internationally and he performed in the presence of many prominent European personalities. It was Karel's arrangement of the Belgian National Anthem that was selected and performed in Brussels by the National Orchestra of Croatia in the presence of the European heads of government on the day of their accession to the EU. Karel is regarded as one of Belgium's most promising new conductors and is a welcome artistic partner of numerous artists and cultural organisations. This is evidenced by the successful collaborations with La Chapelle Sauvage, Red Events, An Pierl?, Podium Nieuw Talent, Davidsfonds, Beauraing Festival of Sacred Music, Festival van Vlaanderen, German Quality Entertainment, Rusanda Panfili and many others. Abigail Barker (soprano) Abigail Barker, a 24-year-old soprano from Nottingham, recently graduated with first-class honours in Vocal Studies (BMus) from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She is currently enriching her vocal study with Patricia Rozario OBE, Marcus van den Akker, and vocal coach Panaretos Kyriazidis. Abigail has performed widely across the UK and Europe. Recent highlights include singing for Lord of the Rings in Concert at St George?s Hall, Liverpool, and touring Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands with Gleb, exploring the connection between the Soprano and Countertenor voices. She spent the summer with Opera de Bauge, appearing in the choruses of 'Don Giovanni' and 'Der Rosenkavalier', and singing Minerva in 'Orpheus in the Underworld'. At Trinity Laban, she performed as Prima Nereidi in Monteverdi's 'Il ritorno d?Ulisse in Patria'. As a frequent competitor, Abigail was a semi-finalist in the Leach Vocal Competition and took part in the Eastbourne International Singing Competition. She won the Trinity Laban English Song prize, was a finalist in the Lilian Ash French Song and Elisabeth Schumann Lieder Competitions, won the Nottingham-based Liz Chant Bursary, and was selected for the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary Competition. Abigail has sung with the Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir under Ralph Allwood, appearing on BBC songs of Praise and also the the Rodolfus Choir, where she had the chance to perform Brahms? Ein Deutsches Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall. She has attended SienAgosto school, performing Baroque repertoire as a soloist in Siena, and the Oxenfoord International Summer School, where she sang scenes as Elisetta (Il Matrimonio Segreto) and Cobweb (A Midsummer Night?s Dream). She has also honed her craft in masterclasses with Ailish Tynan, Pascal Rog?, Janis Kelly, Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Lynne Dawson. Gleb Zakharov (countertenor) Gleb Zakharov is a London-based countertenor and first-class graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where he studied with Patricia Rozario. His recent and upcoming operatic roles include Pisandro in Monteverdi?s Il ritorno d?Ulisse in patria and the title role in Handel?s Giulio Cesare in Egitto, which he will perform in his international debut in Trieste in 2026. Gleb has refined his artistry through studies with Professor Faltin at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule in Berlin and masterclasses with Ailish Tynan. He has appeared in productions such as Strozzi! and Errollyn Wallen?s Dido?s Ghost, and performs a wide range of repertoire from Baroque to contemporary music. His concert work has taken him across Europe, including performances in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. With his warm, dark timbre and instinctive sensitivity to sacred repertoire, Gleb brings profound emotional depth to Stabat Mater, staying true to Pergolesi?s original intention to express raw human suffering, tenderness, and devotion through music. Beyond the stage, Gleb maintains a strong digital presence with over 40,000 followers on Instagram, where he collaborates with major institutions such as Decca Classics and shares creative, educational content that brings classical music to new audiences.