Saturday 2 November, 7.30pm

Canterbury Cathedral

Tickets £34, £28, £23, Listening Seats £15

Monteverdi Vespers 1610

Canterbury Choral Society

Meridian Sinfonia

Conductor – Richard Cooke

We are delighted to close this year’s Festival and mark our Ruby Jubilee with Canterbury Choral Society, who also celebrate Conductor Richard Cooke’s 40th year at the helm.

Few compositions have had an impact on music as great as Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, its breadth of vision and stature surpassing anything which went before, expanding the scope of writing for choirs, soloists and instrumentalists, serving those who followed.

Written for the great space of St Mark’s Venice with its tradition of musical splendour and many galleries enabling the placing of antiphonal choirs, it stands as a milestone in the history of music in the western world.

From small chamber choirs to larger groups such as Canterbury Choral Society, modern editors have provided a template which enables performances by choral groups of all sizes. Tonight they will be joined by the Meridian Sinfonia to share its sheer beauty and greatness with a Festival audience, in the spectacular setting of the Canterbury Cathedral Nave.