World-Premiere Recording of “Let There Be Light” by Sir James MacMillan

Pacific Symphony and Music Director Carl St.Clair announce the release of the orchestra’s world-premiere recording of Fiat Lux by composer Sir James MacMillan and librettist Dana Gioia, Poet Laureate of the State of California. This is the 11th commercial recording by Carl St.Clair with Pacific Symphony, including numerous recordings with its artistic partner Pacific Chorale. The commissioning and recording of Sir James MacMillan’s Fiat Lux, as well as the world-premiere performances last season, were made possible by a generous grant from Howard and Roberta Ahmanson, Fieldstead & Company, and the National Endowment of the Arts. The release coincides with the finale of Pacific Symphony’s 45th anniversary season leading into Carl St.Clair’s 35th season with the orchestra, making him the longest tenured American-born music director with a major American orchestra.

The recording is available for streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. YouTube Videos of the world-premiere performance and interviews with behind-the-scenes material will be available in July.

St.Clair, music director and conductor of the Pacific Symphony, leads the orchestra, and is joined by frequent collaborators Pacific Chorale (Robert Istad, artistic director) and soloists Elissa Johnston, soprano, and Christopher Maltman, baritone.

On the occasion of this world-premiere recording of the work, St.Clair commented, “It was both an honor and a profoundly moving experience to conduct the first performances and world premiere recording of Sir James MacMillan’s Fiat Lux. Pacific Symphony’s exceptional artistry truly brought this magnificent composition to life, complemented exquisitely by the voices of the Pacific Chorale, beautifully prepared by Rob Istad. The superlative solo singing by our vocalists was phenomenal. The glorious sounds of the William J. Gillespie Concert Organ added a profound resonance that elevated the entire performance. And to have Sir James present at all the rehearsals and the concerts—since this is a live recording taken from concerts and not a studio recording—was an extraordinary gift.”

St.Clair concluded, “We are all deeply grateful to Howard and Roberta Ahmanson, whose generosity made the commission, the performances, and this landmark recording possible. This project not only showcases the artistry and vision of everyone involved but also reinforces our commitment to presenting groundbreaking new works to the world.”

Considered the pre-eminent Scottish composer of his generation, Sir James MacMillan has been hailed by The New York Times as “ceaselessly inventive, evocative, and penetrating.” MacMillan’s Fiat Lux was written in 2020 to mark the 2019 consecration of Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. The world premiere was delayed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and was first performed by Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale under the direction of Carl St.Clair in Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall June 15-17, 2023. There was a special encore performance on June 20, 2023 at Christ Cathedral, celebrating their refurbishment of the Hazel Wright Organ, the fifth largest pipe organ in the world.

The large-scale work is based on a poem by Dana Gioia, a California poet laureate and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and also incorporates Latin biblical texts. Approximately 30 minutes long, Fiat Lux is a single through-composed movement made up of five sections: “In the Beginning,” “Chorus,” “Litany of Light,” “Light of the World,” and “Hymn: Cathedral of Light.”

Read the composer note for Fiat Lux.

Pacific Symphony Discography
Music Director Carl St.Clair has led Pacific Symphony in numerous critically acclaimed albums. Under his guidance, the orchestra has commissioned works which later became recordings, including music by William Bolcom, Richard Danielpour, Michael Daugherty, Philip Glass, and Elliot Goldenthal. Read more.

Fiat Lux Recording Credits
Released on the Tonsehen label. Fiat Lux was recorded live in concert at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, Calif. on June 15, 16, and 17, 2023. The recording producer is Christian Amonson and recording engineer is John Downey. Peter Pitout, cover art: Distant Fires V.

Here’s a video from Fieldstead and Company featuring a conversation with Sir James MacMillan and Dana Gioia moderated by Music Director Carl St.Clair.