Cirencester Choral Society Autumn Concert

Cirencester Choral Society

Change of focus for Choral Society’s Concert of coronation music

Handel’s Four Coronation Anthems feature in a programme of ceremonial music by Cirencester Choral Society in the Parish Church on 3rd December. First conceived as a fitting jubilee tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the programme now has a changed significance following her passing. Rather than looking forward to the 70th anniversary of her Coronation next year, thoughts now turn to the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. Handel’s four anthems were composed for King George II’s Coronation in 1727. One of the four, Zadok the Priest, has been sung at every British Coronation since. We wait to see if this tradition will continue.

The Handel works will be paired with Mozart’s Coronation Mass. Although not composed for a Coronation, this popular mass acquired its name after being sung at the Coronation of Francis II as Holy Roman Emperor in 1792. It subsequently became the preferred music for royal and imperial coronations in Vienna and appears so named in the first edition of the famous Köchel catalogue of Mozart’s works in 1862.

The chorus will be accompanied by the Bristol Ensemble and joined by professional soloists from London’s Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music. The concert will be conducted by the Society’s Musical Director Carleton Etherington. Tickets £15 (Student £6, Child £3) are available from early November from the Visitor Information Centre (Corinium Museum) (01285 654180) or Society members.