The Light of Paradise is Paul Mealor’s exploration of the life of Margery Kempe, the extraordinary medieval mystic whose ecstatic visions and fierce devotion challenged the world around her. Drawing on texts from The Book of Margery Kempe and structured around the Stations of the Cross, this powerful hour-long work transcends traditional forms — neither opera nor oratorio, but something entirely its own. Mealor creates a distinctive sound world: weaving melodic motifs through the choir, interspersed with a flamboyant saxophone quartet, resulting in a deeply moving piece that feels both ancient and startlingly modern.
