Between Heaven and Earth

Sherborne Festival Chorus

Part of Sherborne Abbey Festival

Sherborne Festival Chorus
Chameleon Arts Orchestra
Conductor Paul Ellis

Isabella Piggott, soprano
Lucy Thalange, mezzo-soprano
Henrik Enger Holm, tenor
Florian Störtz, bass

Haydn Mass in B flat, Harmoniemesse
Brahms Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny)
Schubert Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished)

After last year’s triumphant post-Covid performance of The Kingdom, Sherborne Abbey Festival's own Chorus of local singers opens the 2023 festival with a concert journeying through the nineteenth century, from the trumpets of Haydn to the soaring melodies of Brahms via one of Schubert’s most popular works.

Our main work is Haydn’s mighty Harmoniemesse, Haydn's last major work, composed when he was celebrated as the greatest living composer. It was written for his employer’s wife’s birthday – quite a present! It has everything that the Princess could have wished for: Haydn at his most cheerful, with lots of woodwind, trumpets and joyful choruses - you can't fail to be uplifted by it.

Schubert’s much-loved ‘Unfinished’ Symphony may only have two movements, but it punches well above its weight, with all the drama and emotion of a longer work, as well as unforgettable melodies, packed into it.

Brahms’ moving Song of Destiny takes the words of Friedrich Hölderlin, describing the contrast between our lives in heaven and earth: blissful calm contrasts with plunging uncertainty, but ultimately a mood of hope prevails – this is music for now just as much as then.

With four prize-winning young soloists and the fine players of Chameleon Arts Orchestra joining us, we're looking forward to getting the festival off to a great start.