Good Friday Concert | Duruflé Requiem and Motets

Good Friday Concert | Duruflé Requiem and Poulenc's Lenten Motets

Southwark Cathedral Choir and Chamber Orchestra

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and reflection by canlelight at the Good Friday Concert featuring the mesmerizing Duruflé Requiem and Poulenc's Lenten Motets.

Experience the powerful and hauntingly beautiful melodies of Maurice Duruflé's Requiem, performed by Southwark Cathedral Choir and Chamber Orchestra. The Requiem, known for its emotional depth and spiritual resonance, will transport you to a place of introspection and contemplation.

Alongside the Requiem, the concert will also feature a selection of Poulenc's Lenten Motets, showcasing the composer's mastery of choral composition. These intricate and harmonious pieces will further enhance the evening, offering a diverse range of musical expressions.

Immerse yourself in the captivating atmosphere of Southwark Cathedral, a historic and awe-inspiring venue that provides the perfect setting for this solemn occasion. The Cathedral's grand architecture and acoustics will elevate the musical experience, allowing you to fully appreciate the beauty and depth of the performances.

Whether you are a music enthusiast, a lover of choral works, or simply seeking a meaningful way to commemorate Good Friday, this concert promises to be a memorable and moving experience. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the Duruflé Requiem and Poulenc Lenten Motets in all their glory.

Conductor: Ian Keatley

Organists: Simon Hogan and James Gough

The proceeds from ticket sales go towards the Chorister Trust Fund which helps fund CD recording and choir tours.

Southwark Cathedral Choir

In 1456, the parish records include a payment made to the 'theatrical children' at St Saviour's (as it was then known). The first direct reference to professional singers is in 1569 when Brian Pattinson, one of the vestry clerks, helped himself to the huge sum of £20 from funds to pay the Choir. He was dismissed and replaced by a successor 'who shall be a good bass'. At the same time, the Choir also advertised for 'a tenor, that the choir may be better served.'

St Saviour's Church became the Cathedral for the newly formed Diocese of Southwark in 1905 and has boasted a fine Choir of boys and men for many years, offering pupils at day schools, both independent and state, the opportunity to learn music in the unique English Cathedral tradition.

As part of the Millennium Project, marking the year 2000, Southwark Cathedral Girls' Choir was formed, on similar lines to the boys, to enrich the Cathedral's musical heritage and to offer the same opportunity for musical, spiritual and social development which the boys have enjoyed for so long. This includes an unparalleled musical education (spanning music from plainsong to the present day).

The Choirs sing regular choral services throughout the week and are thus able to minister in a unique way to the people in South London and beyond through tours and invitations to special events and occasions.

They have become well known through broadcasts, concert, tours and recordings.