{"id":182575,"date":"2026-04-01T20:09:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/182575\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T20:09:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:09:10","slug":"lamb-of-god-makes-new-york-city-debut-at-the-metropolitan-opera-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/182575\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Lamb of God’ Makes New York City Debut at the Metropolitan Opera House"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLamb of God\u201d \u2014 a sacred oratorio by Rob Gardner about Jesus Christ\u2019s death, Atonement and Resurrection \u2014 made its New York City debut at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center on Monday, March 30, 2026.<\/p>\n

The concert, conducted by Gardner, was held in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is focusing this Easter season on the \u201cgreater love\u201d of Christ, a phrase from John 15:13 in the New Testament: \u201cGreater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

At a reception before the concert, Elder Allen D. Haynie<\/a>, General Authority Seventy and President of the Church\u2019s United States Northeast Area, expressed gratitude for Gardner, the performers and the musicians and explained why the Church sponsored the production.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring Holy Week, Jesus Christ perfectly embodied that greater love \u2014 in Gethsemane, on the cross and through His Resurrection,\u201d he said. \u201c\u2018Lamb of God\u2019 brings those sacred events to life in a powerful and moving way. That is why we are honored to support this production.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTemple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Photos<\/p>\n

Elder Haynie explained that for Latter-day Saints, Easter is \u201cnot just a story \u2014 it is a living reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus Christ is our source of joy and peace in this life,\u201d he said, \u201cand the foundation of our hope in the life to come. He is central to all we believe. He is the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gardner told guests at the reception, \u201cAs I wrote [\u201cLamb of God,\u201d] there was one word that was in my mind that I didn\u2019t ever want to escape, and that is the word \u2018hope,\u2019 and \u2026 tonight, my prayer is that as you leave, you will feel a greater sense of hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Lamb-of-God-at-the-Met\"Lamb-of-God-at-the-MetComposer and conductor Rob Gardner speaks at a reception before the \u201cLamb of God\u201d concert at The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City on Monday, March 30, 2026. Also pictured are Elder Allen D. Hanie, General Authority Seventy and President of the United States Northeast Area, and Elder David Marriott, an Area Seventy, both of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo<\/p>\n

Eugene F. Rivers, founder of the Seymour Institute for Black Church and Policy Studies in Boston, said at the reception, \u201cOne of the most powerful statements of hope is the resurrection itself. \u2026 Jesus gives hope to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gardner\u2019s \u201cLamb of God\u201d first appeared as a concept album featuring the London Symphony Orchestra in 2010. Since then, locally produced productions on five continents \u2014 in countries including\u00a0Argentina, Switzerland and Taiwan \u2014\u00a0have involved thousands of performers, many of whom volunteered for the privilege of participating. <\/p>\n

Gardner said that while he believes all \u201cLamb of God\u201d productions are \u201cinteresting and special in their own way … New York has a different personality than other places,\u201d due to its level of sophistication, performers\u2019 backgrounds, world-renowned stages and \u201cjust New York itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York is an art city, and the best of the best are there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Lamb-of-God-at-the-Met\"Lamb-of-God-at-the-Met\u201cLamb of God\u201d attendees fill the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City on Monday, March 30, 2026. Photo by Wes Johnson.All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

The concert starred\u00a0acclaimed soloists<\/a>\u00a0Jessie Mueller as Mary, Santino Fontana as John, Joy Woods as Martha, Norm Lewis as Pilate, Anna Zavelson as Mary Magdalene, Alex Joseph Grayson as Thomas, Brandon Victor Dixon as Peter, Zachary Noah Piser as Judas, Thom Sesma as Onias and Katherine Alexis Thomas as Mary of Bethany. <\/p>\n

Soloist Sesma said he has admired the oratorio since its premiere. \u201c\u2018Lamb of God\u2019 is a story that is alive,\u201d he said. \u201cIt continues, and it is our responsibility to tell that story \u2014\u00a0not just the narrative that is in the gospel but in our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first time hearing it, my first time at the Met,\u201d said Bishop J. Louis Felton, pastor of the Mountain Airy Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia, following the performance. \u201cAnd let me tell you, it\u2019s a mind-blowing experience. \u2026 We felt the love tonight. The people really touched others magnetically with that love of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

Audience member Natashia Neckles drove from Washington, D.C., to attend. \u201cI thought it was absolutely phenomenal,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t tell you how many times I felt chills go down my body. It was phenomenal.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cThe ending, the finale, is what makes it all worthwhile, the feeling that there is hope because Christ gave His life for us, and because of that, we can be hopeful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Lamb-of-God-at-the-Met\"Lamb-of-God-at-the-Met\u201cLamb of God\u201d attendees fill the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City on Monday, March 30, 2026. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

The concert also featured a full 80-piece symphony orchestra and a 135-voice choir comprising the renowned Brigham Young University Singers and the Brigham Young University Concert Choir, which began rehearsing for the concert earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Gardner specifically requested that the Met performance include the BYU choirs, with whom he had previously worked. \u201cBYU is known for and consistently has one of, if not the best, choral programs in the country,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s such an amazing group of singers and led incredibly well by their conductors that you step on the stage and you\u2019ve already got musicality. And then there\u2019s also a connection religiously \u2026, which isn\u2019t necessary to do beautiful music, but it certainly helps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preston Hoffman, BYU Choirs, said that as a conductor, Gardner is \u201cextremely energetic. \u2026 You can feel his passion for both the music and for his testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ. And working with him has allowed me to see that enthusiasm and to try and cultivate a little bit more of that in myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"lincoln-center-met.jpeg\"lincoln-center-met.jpegMetropolitan Opera House in New York City at Lincoln Center.Photo Courtesy of stock.adobe.com\/travelviewDownload Photo<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have our choirs singing in the met, singing about the resurrection of Jesus Christ during Easter week, I don\u2019t know if it can get any better than that, said\u00a0Keith Vorkink, BYU Advancement vice president.<\/p>\n

The university, as part of its 150th anniversary this year, is celebrating gifts of light from Jesus Christ and the gifts of light individuals can share with one another. \u201cIt is about taking the gifts that we develop and \u2026 and sharing them with the world,\u201d Vorkink said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s exactly what happened tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Macy Fisher, BYU Choirs, said she feels lucky to be part of the BYU School of Music, which focuses on lifelong service. \u201cDoing \u2018Lamb of God\u2019 at the Met is a great opportunity for us to do that, to practice what we preach. It\u2019s an opportunity for us to go and testify of Jesus Christ to the whole world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily Wells, BYU Choirs, agreed. \u201cI connect with others best through music, and so I\u2019m grateful for the chance to be able to use this gift of music that God has given us, to be able to connect with other people, and to be able to share our conviction and our testimony, especially because this is Easter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elder Haynie concluded the reception with an invitation to \u201c\u2018seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written\u2019\u00a0(Ether 12:41). If you do, you will find Him \u2014 because He is already seeking you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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