Sacred & Profane

This enterprising programme includes Purcell's rarely performed Bonduca (aka Boudicca, or even Boadicea). The music was written in Purcell’s last year, 1695, for the play by John Fletcher, and includes some of his strongest and most characteristic music – significantly English in style, and not influenced by the then fashionable Italian flavours!

Britten’s late work Sacred and Profane, settings of medieval lyrics that contrast the earthly ravages of medieval life against the ever present fear of God. As with the Purcell, the music captures the essence of Britten’s style in piquant harmonies.

Arvo Pärt’s The Beatitudes provides a suitably ascetic antidote to the gutsy first half, and finally Handel’s ebullient Chandos Anthem Let God Arise – with its distinct reminders and foretastes of music from his Dixit Dominus and Messiah reaches a triumphant Hallelujah in its splendidly sonorous finale.

We are delighted to be working with the Skipton Camerata, the exciting new young professional orchestra on the Yorkshire scene. The 28 singers of Leeds Guild are in excellent form just now, so this promises to be a real treat and highlight on the Leeds music scene this season - just don't miss it!