London Concert Choir – Howells Requiem & Stainer The Crucifixion – 7.30pm
in London Concert Choir for an evening of sacred music from two of the great English choral composers, in the perfect setting.
The understated beauty and emotion of Herbert Howells’ interwar Requiem offers the perfect foil for the reverent Victorian grandeur of John Stainer’s Passiontide oratorio, The Crucifixion.
Howells’ unaccompanied Requiem brings his unmistakable compositional voice and very personal interpretation to the Church’s liturgy for the dead. Composed in 1932, but unpublished until 1980, it provided the genesis of the more complex and widely acclaimed Hymnus Paradisi. With characteristic precision and clarity, Howells evokes loss, grief, reflection and redemption, blending elements of the Latin mass and The Book of Common Prayer.
Our audience is invited to join the choir in singing the hymns of The Crucifixion, ably led by conductor Mark Forkgen. This is a chance to experience the piece as originally conceived by Stainer, who intended it as a participatory act of worship and mediation, inspired by Bach’s Passions and with the directness of an English libretto. Alongside recitatives, choruses and solos, the piece includes renowned hymn tunes that joined the canon of sung worship in the Anglican communion and beyond.
Our concert venue is especially well-matched with this musical programme. Holy Trinity Sloane Square was described by John Betjeman as “the cathedral of the Arts and Crafts movement”. Its richly decorated interior is a visual expression of the aesthetic, social and spiritual ideas of the Anglo-Catholic revival, with which the church was closely connected in the late 19th century.
Our performance in the beautiful and evocative space at Holy Trinity promises to bring Stainer and Howells’ immediacy, devotional sincerity and blend of traditional and modern elements to life for a contemporary audience.
The choir is joined by soloists William Searle (tenor) and Toby Stafford-Allen (bass-baritone) and organist Martyn Noble.
London Concert Choir, one of London’s most versatile choirs, is recognised for its fresh and responsive interpretation of a wide choral repertoire, from sacred works to jazz, opera and musical theatre. Under the leadership of conductor Mark Forkgen, the choir regularly performs in venues across London, working with leading orchestras and solo performers.
Upcoming Events
University 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.
Join Lewisham Choral Society – Rütti Requiem – 7:30pm
Join Lewisham Choral Society for the London premiere of Swiss composer Carl Rütti’s Requiem in the presence of the composer. This striking work was commissioned and premiered in Winchester in 2008 by the Bach Choir, who requested the same orchestration as for the Fauré Requiem: strings, harp and organ. The result was a haunting seven-movement work for double choir with soprano and baritone soloists.
Read MoreSSCS – Messa di Gloria – Giacomo Puccini – 6pm
SSCS is delighted to invite you to our Summer Concert 2026 on Sunday 5 July at 6pm, directed by Oliver Lallemant. The programme is Giacomo Puccini's Messa di Gloria and tickets are available here or on the door. You can download the flyer here. SSCS is always looking for even more members to be a part of our wonderfully fun and engaging choir. There's no audition; we welcome everyone. Email Olly for details admin@sloanesquarechoralsociety.com