A beautiful evening of choral music, from Palestrina’s Renaissance

masterpieces to Howells’ deeply moving Like as the Hart.

On Saturday 16th of November, The Cecilia Consort will be bringing their trademark celestial sound to Douai Abbey with a concert entitled A New Heaven. Janet Coxwell will conduct this much loved Newbury based choir in a varied programme of works with a Remembrance theme.

Victoria’s celebrated masterpiece, the Requiem mass from 1605 takes centre stage. Written for six voices, it’s been called a work of ‘beguiling beauty and sumptuous simplicity’. In contrast, Bob Chilcott’s triptych ‘Canticles of Light’ is a lush modern exploration of the age old theme of light and darkness.

The concert’s titular piece, Edgar Bainton’s ‘And I Saw a New Heaven’, is a radiant favourite of Anglican cathedral choirs across the nation. It is a soaring affirmation of the ultimate triumph of light over darkness; joy over sorrow. In keeping with this, a retiring collection will be taken to benefit Newbury Cancer Care, which celebrates 40 years of support for the local community this year. This is a concert not to be missed.

Starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost £15 for adults and £5 for the under 18s. They are available from the choir’s website www.ceciliaconsort.org.uk (http://www.ceciliaconsort.org.uk) or by calling 07775 743 445.

The Cecilia Consort, founded in 1990, is an auditioned chamber choir of some forty local singing enthusiasts - performing a minimum of two concerts a year, normally in March and November.

Description supplied by the event organiser.