Danesborough Chorus presents a feast of Baroque music
Vivaldi Dixit Dominus, Scarlatti St Cecilia Mass, Handel Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 2
Saturday 27th June 2026 7.30 pm St Mary’s Parish Church, Woburn
Take three great composers, stir in outstanding singers and dedicated musicians, add a sprinkling of strawberries and champagne, and the result will be a sparkling summer concert.
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660–1725) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) were two giants of the Italian Baroque period. Their paths never crossed directly, but their musical legacies offer a fascinating study in contrast and complement. Both were prolific, inventive, and deeply influential, yet they approached composition from different angles: Scarlatti was primarily a composer of vocal music, operating at the heart of the Neapolitan operatic tradition, while Vivaldi, though also an opera composer, is best known for revolutionising instrumental music, particularly the concerto.
In 1720, at the age of sixty, Alessandro Scarlatti composed the Mass for Saint Cecilia for the Basilica Santa Cecilia in Rome. Considered to be the crowning achievement of all his church music, this piece provides a stylistic synthesis of the compositional possibilities of the early 18th century, in a score brimming with striking contrasts.
Hailing from Venice, and one of the greatest Baroque composers, Antonio Vivaldi, nicknamed "The Red Priest" because of his red hair, was both a priest and a virtuoso violinist. He composed three settings of Psalm 110, Dixit Dominus. Tonight’s, RV 595, is in eleven movements for five soloists, five-part choir and orchestra. This setting is less well-known and more modest than the flamboyant RV 594, though its charms are no less endearing and its choral sonority no less compelling.
Seamlessly stitched together from a masterful patchwork of movements drawn from his earlier operas and cantatas, Handel’s Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 2 is notable for its unique five-movement structure and its wonderfully varied orchestration. Its emotional heart is a sublime and deeply tragic Largo of breathtaking beauty, which is framed by movements of brilliant energy and graceful charm, culminating in a magnificent fugal finale. It is a perfect showcase of Handel's theatrical flair and his genius for creating profound art from practical means.
Conducted by Ian Smith, Danesborough Chorus will be joined by Alina Orchestra and soloists from the Royal Academy of Music, Bella Hulbert (soprano), Eleanor Ninham (soprano), Helena Paish (mezzo soprano), Joseph Hancock (tenor) and Tom Butler (bass).
Tickets (all unreserved): £20 (centre pews), £15 (rear centre), £10 (aisle seats), £5 for students (all areas) are available by phoning Lynne on 01908 386796, or online at https://wegottickets.com/event/696438.