Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert

Featuring Tutu Puoane (vocals), Barnyard Big Band, Kamerkoor Helicon and Suzanna Pezo (tap dance)

Duke Ellington’s *Sacred Concert*—bursting with a zest for life—ranks among the hallowed masterpieces of American jazz. During the final phase of his creative life, the jazz icon devoted himself to this renowned three-part cycle for choir, soloist, and jazz orchestra. His magnum opus is rarely performed in concert halls, not only due to the large ensemble required but also because of the music’s unconventional nature, bridging the worlds of jazz, gospel, and European religious traditions.

It is no wonder that Ellington regarded this work as "the most important thing I have ever written". It radiates a universal spirituality: joy, hope, reflection, and a zest for life.