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 Composed in 1932, but unpublished until 1980, it provided the genesis of the more complex and widely acclaimed Hymnus Paradisi.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
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.
21 Oct The Art of Becoming
Mezzo- soprano, Nancy Holt, unpacks how Mozart uses this voice type to capture growing up, falling apart, and coming back together — often all in one aria! Meet Cherubino who can't control his hormones; Dorabella who can't control her heart; and Marcellina who reinvents herself entirely. With live piano accompaniment by Lucy Colquhoun.
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.
28 Oct Sincerity on Trial
Dropped into comic operas with seria voices, Mozart's tenors don't get the straightforward luxury of being either comic or serious — Don Ottavio and Ferrando can be both noble and laughed at in the same breath. This recital explores the gorgeous, soaring music sung by men the drama refuses to let you trust. What happens when Mozart puts his heartfelt heroes on trial? With tenor, Robert Forrest, and pianist, Lucy Colquhoun.
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.