A classical work which Sir Paul McCartney composed as a tribute to his late wife Linda McCartney is to have its New Zealand debut in Wellington.
Ecce Cor Meum, or Behold My Heart, will be performed by the Orpheus Choir, the choristers of the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, the Vector Wellington Orchestra and soprano Madeleine Pierard at Wellington Town Hall on November 29.
Sir Paul began the work in 1998 when he was invited to compose music to mark a new concert hall. Later that year his wife died of breast cancer.
The first version of what would become a five-movement work was performed in 2001. When a recorded version was released two years ago Sir Paul said he hoped the choral piece "could be sung by young people the world over in the same way that Handel's Messiah is".
Michael Fulcher, Cathedral of St Paul director of music, who will conduct the concert, said though it was a classical work, it still had the trademarks of Sir Paul's best-known music.
"It's got the most incredible melodies in it. And what a melodist he was - he came out with one amazing melody after the other. This piece has got that as well: everything is tuneful."
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