Palestrina in Rome
Celebrating Palestrina’s 500th anniversary
Saturday 22 March 2025 at 7.30 pm
All Saints Weston
Chestnut Avenue, Esher, KT10 8JL
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Emily Elias guest conductor
Ticket prices, box office and online purchase
The concert will finish at approximately 9.15 pm. Please then join us in the church hall for refreshments.
The revered ‘Father of Polyphony’, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina celebrates his 500th anniversary this year. Palestrina’s timeless polyphony, composed for the magnificent acoustics of Roman basilicas, captures the serenity and grandeur of the Renaissance. Palestrina’s prolific output, with its profound expression of sacred texts, has had a long-lasting influence on the development of church and secular music across Europe.
Through our Palestrina in Rome programme, The Ripieno Choir honours this rich heritage, pairing Palestrina’s iconic works with modern reimagining of the same ancient texts: from Messiaen’s O sacrum convivium to a Ripieno favourite, James MacMillan’s Ave maris stella.
Duruflé and Rheinberger honour Renaissance techniques through their own Romantic voices, while Holst’s radiant Nunc dimittis and Sir John Tavener’s ethereal Mother of God, here I stand transport you to transcendent soundscapes that bridge centuries of musical tradition.
Join us on this captivating journey, where past and present meet in harmony, and sacred texts inspire profound musical expression, and savour the enduring legacy of Palestrina on modern composers.
We’re delighted that we will be conducted for this concert by Emily Elias. Emily directs the Merbecke Choir at Southwark Cathedral.
Repertoire
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Jubilate Deo
Tu es Petrus
Agnus Dei from Missa Papae Marcelli
O sacrum convivium
Nunc dimittis
Ave maris stella
Ave Maria
Maurice Duruflé
Tu es Petrus
Josef Rheinberger
Mass in E flat – Sanctus and Benedictus
Olivier Messiaen
O sacrum convivium
Gustav Holst
Nunc dimittis
James MacMillan
Ave maris stella
John Tavener
Mother of God, here I stand
Tickets
£18 in advance
£20 on the day (including at the door)
Free for age 18 and below
Group discounts available
Box office
✆ 020 8399 2714
✉ ku.gro.riohconeipirnull@xov