Full Performance

VIDEO OF A LIVE PERFORMANCE AT TRINITY WALL STREET CHURCH, NEW YORK CITY, DECEMBER 28, 2014:

Balthasar's Feast

Balthasar's Feast King Balthasar of Babylon wishes to celebrate a feast, and commands the Satraps to bring the sacred vessels from the Hebrew Temple, which was destroyed by his father, Nebuchadnezzar. Suddenly a mysterious message in a cryptic writing appears on the wall. Balthasar summons his astrologers to interpret the message, but they are unable to understand its meaning. The Queen arrives, and advises Balthasar to summon Daniel, one of the Hebrew captives at the Babylonian court.

Filmed on December 19, 2008 in the Fuentidueña Chapel of The Cloisters, this production was commissioned by Concerts at The Cloisters to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Play's modern premiere by Noah Greenberg and the New York Pro Musica Antiqua, which took place at The Cloisters in 1958.

Filmed on December 19, 2008 in the Fuentidueña Chapel of The Cloisters.

Daniel

Daniel Interpreting the Writing on the Wall Daniel is brought to the King, who promises him great wealth if he can translate the writing on the wall. Daniel contemplates the mysterious message, then answers slowly, explaining that by keeping the sacred vessels looted by his father, Balthasar will suffer the same fate that his father did. The writings, Daniel says, foretell the end of Balthasar's life and his kingdom. Despite learning of his own doom, Balthasar keeps his promise to reward Daniel, and cloaks him with royal vestments.