On Thursday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Princeton University Chapel, Princeton University Concerts (PUC) presents a special event conceived of and led by violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja. She will collaborate with artists from around the world and across campus for the East Coast premiere of a one-of-a-kind dramatic event, Dies Irae.

Kopatchinskaja, on violin and percussion, will be joined by eight double bassists, pianist Conrad Tao, the Princeton University Choir, and Princeton University students and performance faculty. This semi-staged performance offers a musical reflection on the challenges we face in our times: the devastation of global warming, resource wars, and the refugee crisis, to name a few.

Drawing inspiration from the Gregorian Dies Irae chant, the program spans centuries of spiritual exploration. Through this music, Kopatchinskaja contemplates the end of civilization as we know it, with works from the 16th-20th centuries, from Heinrich Biber’s Battalia à 10 to George Crumb’s Black Angels. The evening’s centerpiece is Galina Ustvolskaya’s powerful Dies Irae, with Kopatchinskaja playing percussion alongside eight double basses and piano, creating a visceral and emotionally charged soundscape.

Dies Irae, which has toured the world, including the Lucerne Festival, the Ojai Festival, and Southbank Centre to great acclaim, pushes the boundaries of classical music to challenge understanding of the world and shaping its future. As Kopatchinskaja said, “Most of all, it raises the question of how much time we have left.”

“Over the centuries, in challenging times, people have turned to the healing power and wisdom of music,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “This remarkable ensemble of musicians, led by renowned violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja, offers us a unique space in which to reflect on the troubled state of the world and the need to protect and preserve our beautiful planet.”

Visit puc.princeton.edu for tickets.