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
We are delighted to return to St Martin-in-the-Fields in London with this concert. We are also visiting St Martin's with Christmas Music by Candlelight (Tue 12 Dec 2023) and Summer Music by Candlelight (Tue 25 Jun 2024).
How to book
£35 / £30 / £25 / £16 / £10 plus £3.50 booking fee
Book online or call St Martin-in-the-Fields box office on 020 7766 1100
Jeffrey's introduction to our 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."
