Into the Light

This program invites us to walk Into the Light—not as a simple movement from darkness into brightness, but as a journey through the many forms that light and shadow can take. Darkness is not only despair; it can be silence, rest, waiting, or uncertainty. Light, in turn, is not only brilliance, but also peace, trust, courage, and hope. Together, these works explore how the two coexist, shape one another, and ultimately guide us forward.

We begin with Songs from Silence by Elaine Hagenberg and Creator Alme Siderum (Creator of the Stars), a plainchant arranged by Caitlin Foster. This tune is used by Dan Forrest in the final work of the program.

The first major work is Handel’s Chandos Anthem No. 11, where light is bold and declarative. This is the light of proclamation and praise—confident, communal, and outward-facing. It stands in contrast to shadow not by denying it, but by answering it with joy and conviction, reminding us that shared voices can themselves become a source of light.

We conclude with Dan Forrest’s Lux, a culmination in which light is finally unveiled in its fullness. Drawing on ancient texts and expansive sonorities, the music gathers every shade encountered along the way—joy, stillness, silence, and perseverance—and transforms them into radiance. Here, light is not fragile or fleeting, but sustaining and eternal.

Together, these works form a single arc through shadow and illumination. They remind us that to emerge to the light is not to escape darkness, but to move through it—to discover that every form of shadow holds the possibility of transformation, and that light, in all its forms, is always reaching toward us.

Saturday 23 May 2026

6.30pm

St John’s Cathedral

373 Ann Street, Brisbane

Tickets are now available