Online review:

Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass

Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, Leeds City museum, March 21st & 22nd, 2026

By Geoffrey Mogridge

published on 1^st April 2026 in Ilkley Gazette and Wharfdale Observer

THE Brodrick Hall is the circular central arena of Leeds City Museum, now restored back to its original mid-Victorian splendour.

This domed auditorium with the structural additions of a proscenium arch, stage and dressing rooms, housed the much loved Leeds Civic Theatre from 1949-2005. It has since emerged as one of the city’s most atmospheric performance spaces, in increasing demand for musical events. A suitably imposing setting then, for the Leeds premiere of Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass.

Three performances were given by Leeds Philharmonic Chorus in partnership with Leeds Conservatoire Strings and Northern Film School. Joseph Judge, chorus director of ‘the Phil’ prepared and conducted all performances.

The Norwegian composer describes his Sunrise Mass, composed in 2007 as, ‘A musical journey evolving from transparent and spacious to earthy and warm… from nebulous and pristine, through more emotional landscapes, to ultimately solid ground’.

Gjeilo’s Mass is written for mixed choir and string orchestra. Its four sections correspond with invocations from the Traditional Latin Mass: The Spheres (Kyrie eleison) opens with sustained chords alternating between the four-part choir accompanied by string orchestra. The sopranos open the Sunrise (Gloria) with a memorable theme taken up by the whole choir of 100 singers. The City (Credo) opens with shifting rhythms in the strings which are developed by the tenors and basses. The final section, Identity and The Ground, corresponds with the Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei of the Latin Mass.

Gjeilo’s score resolves in expansive music evocative of vast plains and endless azure skies. Projected video footage of central Leeds streets and hazy sunrise over rivers and viaducts was beautifully filmed by students of the Northern Film School. These performances were transformed into an enthralling audio visual experience enjoyed by hundreds.