Join the Ripieno Choir, guest conductor Emily Elias, for an extraordinary musical journey spanning five centuries of sacred choral music. This innovative programme pairs Palestrina’s timeless Renaissance polyphony, composed for the magnificent acoustics of Roman basilicas, with modern masterworks setting the same ancient texts.
From Messiaen’s mystical harmonies in O sacrum convivium to MacMillan’s contemporary Celtic-influenced Ave maris stella, each modern setting brings fresh perspective to these venerable texts. Hear how Duruflé and Rheinberger honour Renaissance techniques while speaking in their own romantic voice, while Holst’s radiant Nunc dimittis and Sir John Tavener’s ethereal Mother of God, here I stand create transcendent soundscapes that bridge centuries of tradition.
This concert promises to be a captivating journey through the evolution of choral music, highlighting the enduring legacy of Palestrina on modern composers, and revealing how sacred texts continue to inspire profound musical expression.
