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
A Taste of Heaven – 6pm
The Holy Trinity Consort presents a French-Swiss celebration - written in secret and hidden in a drawer for forty years, Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir is now treasured as one of the twentieth century's great choral discoveries. After the interval, Fauré's sublime Requiem: music of consolation, from the radiant Pie Jesu to the whispered farewell of In Paradisum. We are delighted to welcome Läderach as our partner for the evening, and premium-ticket holders will enjoy an exclusive tasting of their exquisite Swiss chocolate. Candlelight, chocolate and glorious music - an evening to savour at Holy Trinity.
Mozart’s Da Ponte Operas: Reinventing the Operatic Voice 11:00 – 13:00
The astounding partnership between Mozart and Da Ponte produced Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni and Cosi Fan Tutte, featuring many of opera's most complex and memorable roles. Experience the music and meet the characters in this enthralling recital series.
4 Nov Reason and Desire
Soprano, Ceferina Perry, introduces us to the smartest women in eighteenth-century opera: Susanna outwits everyone; the Countess holds her dignity together with sheer will; Zerlina talks her way out of disaster; and Despina runs the whole con. Mozart and Da Ponte threw out the rulebook for female characters and gave each of them a voice, and a mind, entirely her own. Come and celebrate the women who prove that wit, resilience, and desire is just as operatic as tragedy.
Thames Philharmonic Choir: Bach Christmas Oratorio – 7pm
Celebrate the festive season with Bach’s much-loved Christmas Oratorio, performed by Thames Philharmonic Choir with their distinctive warmth and energy. From the jubilant opening, “Jauchzet, frohlocket!”, to moments of wonder, reflection and joy, it is one of the great musical celebrations of Christmas. The performance features Parts 1, 2, 3 and 6.
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