Death of Classical returns to the Crypt under the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for a program entitled “Relics & Martyrs.”

The program centers around the world premiere of a new cantata by composer and double bassist Doug Balliett. His new work explores the complex and twisted history of relics and martyrs, creating a powerful meditation on sacrifice, devotion, and the human condition. The premiere will be woven together with selections from Dietrich Buxtehude’s “Membra Jesu Nostri” and Caroline Shaw’s “to the hands.”

Performing “Relics & Martyrs” will be an early-music ensemble comprising five singers and seven instrumentalists, drawn from The New Consort and Theotokos. Each performance includes a pre-concert reception featuring wine, food, and Via Carota cocktails in the main space of the Cathedral, followed by a guided walk through the stone quarry before descending into the Crypt for the concert.

“Relics & Martyrs” will take place Oct. 8-10.

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