Vigil
Tallis and Rachmaninov
The Ripieno Choir and English Arts Chorale join forces to perform two of the best-loved tours de force of the choral repertoire – Tallis’s monumental Spem in alium, and Rachmaninov’s deeply moving All-Night Vigil – complemented by additional night prayer music, for an evening of awe and reflection.
Saturday 18 June 2022 at 8.00 pm
The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
Hampton Court Way, Thames Ditton, KT7 0LP
conducted by
Huw Morgan and Leslie Olive
Please note the later start time. The concert will end at about 10.00 pm.
Evening time, as night falls. A time of reflection. A time of repose. A time of peace.
Such sentiments echo throughout eventide and nocturnal music: complex and powerful melodies combine to create reflective and prayerful soundscapes.
Setting the traditional elements of the all-night vigil service to music, with a few additional movements of his own, Rachmaninov’s Vespers weave a rich and complex galaxy of choral sound around the plainchant melodies of the orthodox church.
In contrast, Tallis’ monumental 40-part motet Spem in alium is a spectacular display of his mastery of complex polyphony and harmonic counterpoint. As the musical baton is passed around the eight choirs of five voices each, the sonic tapestry envelopes the audience in the 16th century equivalent of surround sound.
In Knut Nystedt’s Immortal Bach and Huw Morgan’s Night Prayer, multiple choirs sing the same music at different times, creating a contemporary effect of mystical calm and reverence.
The Ripieno Choir and the English Arts Chorale come together to perform these choral tours de force not once, but twice. In Thames Ditton or Reigate, join us for an evening of music to refresh the soul.
Repertoire
Thomas Tallis
Spem in alium
Loquebantur variis linguis
O nata lux de lumine
In manus tuas Domine
If ye love me
Knut Nystedt
Immortal Bach
Huw Morgan
Night Prayer
Paul Carr
The Lamb
Sergei Rachmaninov
All-Night Vigil (Vespers)
Ticket prices
£16 if bought in advance
£18 on the day (including at the door)
£5 for under 18s – please contact the box office on 020 8399 2714.
Group discounts – you can buy six tickets for the price of five online; for larger groups please contact the box office.
Repeat performance
There is a second opportunity to hear the Vigil concert programme at English Arts Chorale’s performance venue in Reigate.
Saturday 2 July 2022 at 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Church, Chart Lane, Reigate, RH2 7RN
For tickets and further information please visit the English Arts Chorale website.