Rachmaninoff 150 'Vespers'
EX CATHEDRA Choir
Jeffrey Skidmore conductor
Martha McLorinan mezzo soprano
James Robinson tenor
Simone Rebello bells
Powerful, passionate, hypnotic – in a time of turmoil and amid the shock of war, Rachmaninoff turned to the choral heritage he held dear, and created one of the most awe-inspiring vocal masterpieces.
Immerse yourself in its luminous choral tapestry, mesmeric melodies and some of the lowest notes you’ll ever hear sung. No wonder it is beloved by audiences and singers alike.
Jeffrey writes:
"We are thrilled to return to Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, his most-loved work using orthodox chants from the Znamenny tradition, Greece and poignantly from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Recent discoveries from the original 1915 poster inform our performance and bells, so dear to Rachmaninoff and Russian Christian culture, will sound the chants between movements."
Running time: approx. 1 hr 40 minutes, including interval.
“the stuff that legends are made of”
Birmingham Post
How to book
General sale opens on Mon 5 June 2023, 10am.
If you are a member of our Host of Angels, you will have been emailed a priority booking code for the date booking opens for you.
£35 / £25 / £15 including per ticket commission
£15 - aged 18-30, not in full-time education
£5 - under 18s and students in full-time education
Book online or call the Courtyard box office on 01432 340 555
Please note tickets are not available from the B:Music box office, or Cathedral Shop for this concert.
Buy more & save up to £3.50 per ticket
If you like this, why not also book for two other Ex Cathedra performances at Hereford Cathedral:
Wednesday 6 December, 7.30pm – Christmas Music by Candlelight
Wednesday 12 June 2024, 8pm – Summer Music by Candlelight
Buy 2 concerts at the same time & save £2.50 per ticket
Buy all 3 concerts at the same time & save £3.50 per ticket
Jeffrey's introduction to the season
"Ex Cathedra is special. A highly regarded music critic once said that the choir was probably the best in the world. This is quite a claim and not only includes the technical virtuosity and unique chemistry of the singers but also the ethos of the ensemble, its ability and desire to communicate with audiences, its imaginative programming, its stylistic awareness and above all its humanity... Another leading commentator, festival director and respected musical thinker summed up our work by saying that Ex Cathedra was 'the most sophisticated, three dimensional and multi-layered of all the leading groups in the country'. This is high praise and something we strive to maintain."
