Eternity in an Hour | Eric Whitacre Conducts

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour. 

These words by William Blake have fascinated Eric Whitacre for years, and his obsession has taken shape as an hour-long meditation in sound – a musical guide to ‘how to be truly in the moment’. Written for voices, instruments and an ethereal blanket of electronics, Eternity in an Hour shimmers and soars and fills the air with disembodied harmonies.

Whitacre is a legend in the choral world – his charismatic music with its delicious chord clusters is a dream to sing and mesmerising to hear. In a welcome return to the Sydney Opera House he conducts Sydney Philharmonia Choirs’ youth ensemble VOX in this new hour-long creation.

Preparing our ears for the ultimate in contemplative experiences, Whitacre has chosen two of his most popular choral works, Edwin London’s take on a Bach chorale, ‘Come, sweet death’, and Past Life Melodies by Sarah Hopkins, an immersive blending of global vocal traditions that has become one of the most performed Australian choral works worldwide.