Seven Last Words at The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph

This March, Music at Co-Cath (MACC) presents Seven Last Words, an immersive choral program featuring James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross alongside Caroline Shaw’s To the Hands.

Set within the resonant architecture of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, the program pairs MacMillan’s uncompromising and visceral response to the Passion narrative with Shaw’s searching, humanistic meditation on suffering and compassion. Heard together, the works trace a compelling emotional arc — from intensity and confrontation toward stillness, care, and renewal.

“These pieces are deeply expressive and unafraid of emotional weight,” says Artistic Director Alejandro Zuleta. “They engage with suffering not as abstraction, but as lived experience — and invite the audience into a space of listening, reflection, and shared presence.”

Presented as choral theater, Seven Last Words integrates voice, movement, and spatial awareness, emphasizing the physical and communal dimensions of live performance while remaining rooted in the musical rigor of both composers’ writing.

All performances are free and open to the public with a suggested donation of $25.

Learn more about MACC at maccbrooklyn.org