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2001 was marked by several significant project completions. The first was the release in February of the first ever complete recording of Berlioz' monumental choral/orchestral Te Deum. Soli Deo Gloria sponsored this EMI Virgin Classics recording which features the Choir and Orchestra of Paris, tenor Roberto Alagna, and organist Marie-Claire Alain conducted by John Nelson. The recording was nominated for the Grand Diapason d'Or Prize.
In March of 2001, following the performances of Mendelssohn's Elijah four years earlier, Soli Deo Gloria again collaborated with the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music this time in two performances of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem. The performances took place on the campus of Wheaton College and showcased the school's symphony orchestra and several of its choral groups. These were joined by the West Suburban Choral Union, the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus, and soloists Gwynne Geyer, Donald Kaasch, and Robert Orth.
June 12, 2001, marked the world premiere of our third commissioned piece, a work written by Augusta Read Thomas. The title of the piece, Daylight Divine, was taken from one of two Poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins, The Windhover and Pied Beauty, which comprise the text of the work. It was commissioned in memory of Diana Nering, a beloved humanitarian and extraordinary advocate for children who suffer from abuse. The piece is scored for chamber orchestra, children's choir and soprano soloist.
Daylight Divine received its first performance in the St. Denis Basilica in France, as part of the St. Denis Festival. The performing forces included L'Ensemble orchestral de Paris, the Indianapolis Children's Choir and soprano soloist Christine Brandes. Its American premiere was given a few months later by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of its Music Director Mark Laycock.
