Thursday 8 November 2012

All Souls in London and Sydney

In London, at the Cathedral on the north side of the Thames, the Mass setting was the Anerio Requiem - beautiful  well-structured Italian polyphony in a style akin to that of the great Palestrina.  The said Cathedral has recorded this work.  And here is a wonderful video of the Bach Collegium of San Diego singing the Introit and Kyrie:


At the Oratory on Brompton Road it was the sublime Victoria Requiem, with sackbuts and cornetts.  

In Sydney, the setting was the Faure Requiem, and it was sung by the Cathedral Choir quite stunningly. The Mass was well attended, especially considering that it was Friday evening.  The Cardinal was present in choir, having returned that very evening from the Synod for New Evangelisation in Rome, of which he was a member. The Mass was celebrated by the Dean of the Cathedral ad orientem at the front altar in the main Sanctuary.  


Incidentally, Westminster Cathedral will be singing the Durufle Requiem for Armistice/Remembrance Day.  This year, the 11/11 happens to fall on a Sunday, however I am given to understand that in the UK, the second Sunday in November is known as Remembrance Sunday, and is the official commemoration of those who served in the Great War (and later conflicts).  The Cathedral Choir then heads off to Rome for the International Festival of Sacred Music and Art where they will sing at a Mass in St Peter's Basilica on Tuesday 13 November.  More to come on that.