A Celebration of Glory ()
Join us for a celebration of the joy of choral music, with a pairing of ‘Glorias’ by Antonio Vivaldi and Francis Poulenc.
Vivaldi composed his Gloria in Venice, probably in 1715, for the choir of the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage for girls (or more probably a home, generously endowed, by the girls’ anonymous fathers, for the illegitimate daughters of Venetian noblemen and their mistresses). The wonderfully sunny nature of the Gloria, with its distinctive melodies and rhythms, is characteristic of all of Vivaldi’s music, giving it an immediate and universal appeal.
Poulenc’s Gloria, written for soprano, chorus, and orchestra, was first premiered in January 1961. It was commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation and was supposedly inspired by a rugby match. Scandalous for the time, the music spans from dark to whimsical. There are a total of six movements, all individually breathtaking with rich and flowing harmonies. Beginning at the declaratory entrance of the chorus in the first movement, listeners may find themselves on the edge of their seats constantly wondering what Poulenc may do next.
We’re singing:
- Gloria, FP 177 (1959) — Poulenc
- Gloria in D, RV 589 (1715) — Vivaldi
Tickets
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Venue
Lichfield Cathedral, The Close, Lichfield, WS13 7LD [map]