Sacred Music by Rachmaninov and Mozart

Wigan Choral Society

The concert comprises two short but soulful sacred works. 

Mozart's Vesperae Solemnes de Confessore includes the famous and beautiful Laudate Dominum which is often sung as a solo but here is integrated into a larger choral work.  Like Mozart's Requiem, these Vespers are melodic and easy to follow but full of rich and suprising harmonies.

Rachmaninov's All Night Vigil, often known as his Vespers, is a haunting set of unaccompanied choral pieces with a tenor solo.  The piece reflects Rachmaninov's deep religious faith, its traditional Russian chants featuring exquisitely rich harmonies.  Rachmaninov so loved the work that he requested it be sung at his funeral.  We shall be singing excerpts from this work, which doesn't last all night!