Work of the Week - Robert Schumann: Verzweifle nicht im Schmerzenstal

On Friday 7th May, a new arrangement of Robert Schumann's Verzweifle nicht im Schmerzenstal will receive its world premiere at the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. Conducted by Georg Christoph Biller, the performance, which takes place 160 years after Schumann's original work for double male choir was also premiered in Leipzig, will form part of the many concerts, projects and events which are taking place in 2010 to celebrate the 200th birthday of Robert Schumann.

Schumann described the original work as religious music and it was first performed with an organ accompaniment on 4th July 1850 for the 25th anniversary celebrations of the St. Paul’s university choral society and an orchestral version was later completed and performed in 1853. In a letter to Schumann, Herrmann Langer, the conductor of both versions, mentioned 'the wonderful effect' the work had on the audience and that, to him, 'the motet was one of the most stimulating and inspiring creations in male-voice literature'.

Verzweifle nicht im Schmerzenstal will be performed a second time at the St. Thomas Church on 8h May. A tour will follow around Germany until 19th September.

• More Information, Sample Pages and Performance Dates
• Website of the St. Thomas Chorus