LDS composer Rob Gardner reflects on inspiration behind Easter oratorio ‘Lamb of God’ + video

In November 2009, Rob Gardner emailed a proposal to the London Symphony Orchestra. He wanted to compose and conduct an oratorio about the last week of the Savior’s life, and he knew that if he could involve the London Symphony Orchestra, which he considers the best in the world, he could compose the work he envisioned.

The idea for the proposed project came to Gardner while he was serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the France Bordeaux Mission from 1996-1998. Gardner entered the mission field with a broad range of musical experience, having performed in an a cappella group during high school and composed music for his school’s orchestra. Despite Gardner’s best efforts to keep his musical abilities a secret, his mother made sure his mission president knew.

Gardner’s mission president, Charles Cuénot, a native of France, understood the difficulty missionaries in the area faced in getting people to listen to their message. In an effort to help the missionaries find more people to teach, President Cuénot started hosting musical presentations in various areas around the mission before Gardner was ever called to serve there.

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The event runs March 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 pm at the Newman Center. For tickets, click here.