More than 150 performers took to the stage of the Grimaldi Forum on 27th July for the Monaco premiere of Liverpool Oratorio, the ambitious large-scale work co-composed by Paul McCartney and American conductor Carl Davis…
Originally commissioned by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to mark its 150th anniversary, the oratorio had never before been performed in the Principality.
The performance was a major event in Monaco’s summer cultural calendar, attended by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II. This moving and theatrical concert brought together the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the CBSO Chorus, and the children’s choir of Amis Réunis, with featured soloists including soprano Jessica Pratt, tenor Andrew Owens, soprano Floriane Hasler, and baritone Erwin Schrott.
Taking the baton for the first time in this work was conductor Kazuki Yamada, who brought precision, balance, and drama to the evening. Although oratorios are traditionally sacred in nature, this work explores more universal and personal themes, tracing the journey of a young man named Shanty from youth to adulthood through love, loss, fatherhood, and reflection.
Composed in 1991, the Liverpool Oratorio was McCartney’s first foray into classical music. While McCartney provided much of the melodic material, Carl Davis contributed structure and orchestration, helping shape the former Beatle’s ideas into a cohesive and emotionally resonant score.
The Monaco performance was hailed as a triumph, delivering both grandeur and intimacy in equal measure. With its themes of resilience, hope, and humanity, the oratorio found a fitting home in Monaco’s cultural heart—performed with passion and received with warmth.
Images: Paul McCartney Project and Monaco Info
