Events

Cherubini’s magnificent Requiem in C minor will be the centrepiece of Ely Consort’s concert in Ely Cathedral on Saturday 12 March at 7.30pm. It was composed for the re-entombment of the French monarchs at the Basilica of Saint-Denis, Paris, in 1817. Cherubini was already much in demand as a composer in the capital cities of Europe, and this Requiem enhanced his reputation considerably. Schumann called it ‘unequalled’, Brahms thought it ‘marvellous’, and Berlioz declared it ‘the greatest work of its author’. Beethoven admired the work so much he said it would be his example should he ever write a Requiem of his own; he did not, but Cherubini’s was performed at a Mass for Beethoven shortly after his funeral. The piece is written entirely for choir without soloists, and the dramatic music vividly expresses the full range of emotions in the text.

Returning to Chatteris and Live Music in East Cambridgeshire this Christmas!

For our final concert of the year Ely Consort are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the festive season, with everyone’s favourite highlights from Handel’s Messiah (including most of the Advent sequence), Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and more besides. We will be accompanied by soprano Julia Riley, violinist Steve Bingham and the Con Brio Chamber Orchestra for a celebration which is guaranteed to set you up for perfectly for Christmas.

The weather outside might be frightful but the music and welcome will be delightful.

Cherubini’s magnificent Requiem in C minor will be the centrepiece of Ely Consort’s concert in Ely Cathedral on Saturday 12 March at 7.30pm. It was composed for the re-entombment of the French monarchs at the Basilica of Saint-Denis, Paris, in 1817. Cherubini was already much in demand as a composer in the capital cities of Europe, and this Requiem enhanced his reputation considerably. Schumann called it ‘unequalled’, Brahms thought it ‘marvellous’, and Berlioz declared it ‘the greatest work of its author’. Beethoven admired the work so much he said it would be his example should he ever write a Requiem of his own; he did not, but Cherubini’s was performed at a Mass for Beethoven shortly after his funeral. The piece is written entirely for choir without soloists, and the dramatic music vividly expresses the full range of emotions in the text.

Matthew Rudd – Conductor

John Rutter – The Gift of Life
Sir Hubert Parry – My soul, there is a country
Sir James MacMillan – Who shall separate us
(as sung at the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II)
Brahms – Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras

The highlight of the concert will be a performance of John Rutter’s The Gift of Life, a six-movement choral celebration of the living earth, of creation, and of life itself. With an accompaniment of organ, piano, harp and percussion, the music offers a kaleidoscope of moods from contemplative and prayerful to majestic and inspirational. This is one of John Rutter’s most recent substantial works, and it has been very well received.

We will also sing two of the anthems which were performed at the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, James MacMillan’s Who shall separate us? which was specially written for the service, and Sir Hubert Parry’s much-loved My soul, there is a country. The concert will also include the powerful Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras from Brahms’s German Requiem.

Tickets: £18. under 18s Free.

If you experience a problem when booking tickets via our website, please email: box.office@elycathedral.org or leave us a voicemail on 01353 660349. Please note it may take up to 2 working days as messages are only checked on a part time basis.

Ely Consort are looking forward to returning once again to Chatteris Parish Church, with another programme of fine choral music. ‘Sing Joyfully’ is the title of an anthem by the English Tudor composer William Byrd; 2023 is the 400th anniversary of his death, and also that of his contemporary Thomas Weelkes.

The first half of our programme features a selection of pieces by both composers, covering both the deeply expressive and the joyful aspects of their music. We contrast the Tudor pieces with an incredible piece for eight-part choir by the contemporary composer Jonathan Dove. Although written recently, ‘Vadam et circuibo civitatem’ also has its roots in the sixteenth century; it is a re-imagining of a piece by Tomas Luis de Victoria, the greatest Spanish composer of the renaissance. In the second half of the concert, we change era to the late nineteenth century, singing the choruses from Brahms’s incredible ‘German Requiem’, one of the most powerful pieces of choral music ever written. We will be accompanied in this performance by a splendid new piano duet transcription of the orchestral accompaniment, played by our regular accompanist, Anne Reece, who is joined by Christopher Moore. Anne will also play piano solos by John Ireland in the first half of the concert.

We do hope that you will be able to come to the concert and hear us Singing Joyfully!