Holst Singers- Illuminations – Sacred Music of Europe – 7pm
Illuminations – Sacred Music of Europe opens our 2026 concert series with a pilgrimage of sacred choral music across northern Europe. Beginning in Finland with the stillness of Einojuhani Rautavaara, the programme visits the choral traditions of the Baltic states and Western Europe, exploring music shaped by prayer, ritual, and light.
Along the way, we encounter the distinctive voices of composers including Veljo Tormis, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Paweł Łukaszewski, and Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, before reaching France with the expressive intensity of Francis Poulenc. Our journey concludes at home in Britain with a radiant finale by Gustav Holst.
Conducted by our Musical Director, Stephen Layton MBE, this first concert sets the tone for Illuminations: a celebration of sacred sound as a shared European tradition, moving from winter stillness towards springtime renewal.
Upcoming Events
Goldsmiths Choral Union – POETRY IN MOTION – 7:30pm
POETRY IN MOTION
Poetry in motion brings together choral works that blend poetry, rhythm and melody in unexpected ways. From Gjeilo’s The Rose which shimmers with luminous harmonies to Shearing’s setting of Shakespeare’s words in a joyful jazz-infused style to the electrifying Misatango, where the traditional Latin Mass meets the passion and pulse of Argentine tango. A vibrant, uplifting evening not to be missed!
Battersea Choral Society – Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise – 7:30pm
Hymn of Praise (Lobgesang, Op. 52) is a large-scale choral symphony composed in 1840 by Mendelssohn to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. It is one of Mendelssohn’s most ambitious choral works which helped to revive interest in large, sacred choral music in the 19th century. Interestingly, he was inspired partly by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Fit for midsummer, this piece is a bright, triumphant and deeply spiritual choral work.
Read MoreUniversity of Arkansas Children’s Choir USA – 4:30pm – FREE CONCERT
The University of Arkansas Children’s Choir, founded in 1997, is a community outreach programme of the University of Arkansas Music Department. The ensemble provides young singers with training in performance, musicianship, and music theory within an inclusive and supportive environment.
Its performances span a wide range of musical styles, languages, and traditions, combining strong musical standards with energy, warmth, and a commitment to creativity and inclusivity.