Lang: The Little Match Girl Passion

American composer David Lang’s The Little Match Girl Passion was specially commissioned by Carnegie Hall for Paul Hillier’s Theatre of Voices musical ensemble. In this deeply affecting and highly imaginative choral work, Lang uses texts from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Match Girl”, the Gospel According to Matthew and Picander’s libretto for J. S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion. The work, about a little girl who is forced to sell matches on the street, struck a chord with audiences worldwide and has since been adapted for chamber ensemble and full chorus as well as for the stage.