The Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town will perform its upcoming gala concert, Mendelssohn: A Choral Odyssey on Saturday, 24 October 2026 at 7.30pm in the Cape Town City Hall.
This extraordinary musical evening brings together landmark compositions by Felix Mendelssohn, performed by an ensemble under the baton of acclaimed German conductor Martin Berger. Joining the Philharmonia Choir on stage are two distinguished guest choirs: Stellenbosch University’s Schola Cantorum and the renowned Herrenstimmen der Essener Domsingknaben from Germany.
The programme features two of Mendelssohn’s most celebrated sacred choral creations: Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise) and Psalm 42 (Wie der Hirsch schreit).
Composed in 1840 to mark the 400th anniversary of Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press, Lobgesang is a majestic symphony-cantata that traces a journey from darkness into light. Opening with three instrumental movements before giving way to powerful choral and solo sections, the work celebrates human enlightenment, gratitude, and divine praise with grand orchestrations and uplifting choruses.
An exciting cultural partnership
Complementing this grand work is Psalm 42 (Opus 42), composed in 1837. Setting text based on Psalm 42 (As the deer pants for streams of water), the piece captures deep emotional yearning, spiritual solace, and eventual hope. Robert Schumann famously praised Psalm 42 as the finest church music composition of its era, highlighting Mendelssohn’s unmatched ability to blend delicate lyrical solos with rich, complex contrapuntal writing.
Leading the performance is Dr Martin Berger, whose career as a conductor, scholar, and choir director spans top institutions across Europe and South Africa. Formerly the Director of Music (Domkapellmeister) at Würzburg Cathedral, Berger brings deep expertise in the European sacred tradition alongside a passion for vibrant collaborative performance.
The concert marks an exciting cultural partnership between local and international voices. Cape Town audiences will experience the combined depth and texture of the Philharmonia Choir, the vocal precision of Schola Cantorum, and the rich tradition of the Herrenstimmen der Essener Domsingknaben – the adult male voices of the famed Essen Cathedral Choir in Germany. Together, these ensembles form a grand festival choir capable of delivering the full scale and emotional intensity of Mendelssohn’s monumental scores.
What: Mendelssohn: A Choral Odyssey – Lobgesang (Op. 52) & Psalm 42 (Op. 42)
Where and when: Cape Town City Hall on 24October 2026
Tickets: Quicket
WS
