Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise
(Lobgesang)
Brahms Song of Destiny
(Schicksalslied)
Brahms Alto Rhapsody
Saturday 3 November 2018 7.30pm
London Mozart Players
Canterbury Choral Society
Canterbury Choral Society Youth Choir
Richard Cooke conductor
Rebecca Lea soprano
Madeleine Shaw mezzo soprano
Peter Auty tenor
VENUE: Canterbury Cathedral
Saturday’s Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise concert in the Cathedral closes the Festival with a romantic flourish. Brahms’ choral writing was centred on his German Requiem, but there are shorter works of similar quality, two of which – The Alto Rhapsody for alto solo, men’s choir and orchestra, and the Song of Destiny, will be performed by the choir and orchestra in the first half of the concert.
Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2, Lobgesang, better known as Hymn of Praise, follows. A favourite of the choral repertoire ever since it was written in 1840, it has a similar structure to Beethoven’s 9th with three orchestral movements preceding the grand, extended choral finale. Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise ends with a burst of uplifting energy and fiery choruses, offset by enchantingly lyrical orchestral writing and solos arias.
