Live performance at Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels on 3 June 2012 chorus: Octopus Symphony Chorus orchestra: Le Concert d'Anvers conductor: Bart Van Reyn soprano: Ida Falk Winland tenor: Yves Saelens bass: Birger Radde more info: www.octopusensembles.be TRIO & CHORUS Simon (bass): Then the greatest dawn doth break, and the Almighty's second word awakes us to new life, freed forever from pain and death. Simon (bass) & Lucas (tenor): The gates of heaven open wide, the holy mount appears, crowned by the tabernacle of the Lord, where peace and joy reign supreme. Chorus: Who may enter these portals? Trio: He who shunned evil and did good. Chorus: Who may ascend this mount? Trio: He who has spoken the truth. Chorus: Who may dwell in this tabernacle? Trio: He who helped the poor and needy. Chorus: Who shall taste of these joys? Trio: He who protected the innocent. Chorus: Oh see, the great dawn approaches! Oh see, it gleams already! Heaven's portals open, the holy mount appears. Finished, their racket silenced, are the sorrow-laden days, the Winter-storms of life. An eternal Spring now reigns, and infinite blessedness rewards the righteous. May such a reward one day be ours! Let us work and strive for it! Let's fight the good fight, hoping that this prize will be ours! Thy hand, O God, shall guide us. Give us strength and courage. Then shall we sing, then shall we enter the kingdom of thy glory. Amen.