The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is making a push to make Easter as big a deal as Christmas.
Composer Rob Gardner is working with Brigham Young University's School of Music to take his contemporary oratorio, "Lamb of God," to New York City.
The BYU School of Music is going to New York City — specifically, the University Singers and Concert Choir.
BYU’s University Singers and Concert Choir have begun preparations for a special performance in New York City.
"Concert Choir and University Singers represent the top of the heap in terms of our choral singers at BYU," BYU music professor Brent Wells said.
This top choral ensemble will perform Lamb of God by Rob Gardner alongside Broadway legends Jessie Mueller, Santino Fontana, Joy Woods and Norm Lewis.
This performance won’t be just another Broadway showcase. It will be presented in collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of the church’s broader effort to highlight the meaning of Easter.
"It's a little bit like Handel's 'Messiah,' but for a more modern audience," BYU's choral activities director, Andrew Crane, said.
Crane has worked personally with Gardner and his music before.
"Around Covid, Rob Gardner created a concert film version of it, so that was the first time that I'd worked with Rob," Crane said.
Despite previous renditions of "Lamb of God," Rob Gardner has been revising the score to create a production audiences have never seen before at the Metropolitan Opera House.
"As we get closer, Rob Gardner has decided to make some changes to the music. We received new scores yesterday," Concert Choir president, Lenora Mohlman, said.
"To be able to perform a work of this caliber in such a venue as the Met. It's something that doesn't come along twice in your lifetime," University Singers president, Angie Whiting-Vance, said.
Amid the anticipation, students from BYU said they hope to share their faith in Jesus Christ in New York City.
"It feels really exciting, really exhilarating to be able to share my testimony in such an unashamed way," Whiting said.
The University Singers and Concert Choir will be flying out to New York City for this special, one-time performance of "Lamb of God" at the end of the month.
Seats are selling out fast for the March 30 performance on the Metropolitan Opera House's website.