Concert: Christmas Festival, St John’s Smith Square

Date: Sunday 8 December 2019, 7.30 pm    Venue: St John's, Smith Square {venue link »}

What better place to find inspiration for Christmas than Italy. A programme of beautiful music, some contemplative, some a riot of joy, by native composers and those who made their homes in the cradle of the Renaissance. Gorgeous eight-part music and intimate three-part settings re-create the atmosphere of Christmas Eve. The first half is given over to the intimate and beautiful Missa O magnum mysterium by Tomas Luis de Victoria, who was born in Spain but spent most of his working life in Rome. Around it are two sumptuous eight-part motets and in between two three-part motets by the young Claudio Monteverdi. In the second half there is grandeur from the Venetian Giovanni Gabrieli, serious devotion from Josquin whose music was performed in the Sistine Chapel, rarely heard contributions from Felice Anerio and Ludovico Viadana and unalloyed joy from the greatest Roman master, Palestrina.

Book online at https://www.sjss.org.uk/

by phone on 020 7222 1061

in person at St John’s, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday