Wimbledon Choral Society – Bernstein: Chichester Psalms – 7:30pm
Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms was commissioned by Chichester Cathedral's then Dean, Walter Hussey, for the Southern Choirs Festival held in the cathedral in 1965 with singers from Salisbury, Chichester and Winchester Cathedrals. He has taken extracts from Psalms 2, 23, 100, 108, 131 & 133, retained the text in Hebrew, and wrapped his typical vibrant, rhythmic, spiritual style around it, incorporating echoes of West Side Story. It has become a unique work for peace and unity.
German-American composer Lukas Foss was a long-time friend of Leonard Bernstein, having met at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He wrote his simply-titled Psalms in 1956 and it draws on extracts from Psalms 23, 95 & 121 with Psalm 98 forming the main body of the work.
Fellow American, Charles Ives, took several decades to complete his Psalm 90, one of twelve Psalm settings he wrote and, according to his wife, the only one amongst his 600 or so compositions with which he was fully satisfied.
Coming full circle, the concert’s programme is completed by British composer Joanna Marsh’s A Psalm for Chichester (Psalm 90), linking back to Bernstein’s text choice of unity and harmony. To cement the link, this work was also commissioned by Chichester Cathedral to mark the Diocese’s 950th Anniversary in 2025. It was premiered by the Cathedral Choir in July 2025 in a concert that also included Bernstein’s work in the same programme that night.
Wimbledon Choral’s full season details can be found by clicking on the image below.
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