The annual Three Choirs Festival in Hereford, celebrated its historical roots and musical grandeur with a series of spectacular performances by the Philharmonia Orchestra. The festival opened with Mathias's 'This Worlde’s Joie', continued with Howells’s poignant 'Hymnus Paradisi', honored Coleridge-Taylor's 'The Atonement', and concluded with Mendelssohn’s epic 'Elijah'. Each concert featured exceptional artists and highlighted the power of choral music to express joy, grief, and spiritual transcendence, captivating audiences with their emotional depth and artistic mastery.

Harmony and Heritage: The Immersive Experience of the Three Choirs Festival 2025

The 2025 Three Choirs Festival promises a captivating exploration of choral music's grandeur and emotional depth. Held at the historic Hereford Cathedral, the festival features an eclectic lineup, from William Mathias's exuberant 'This Worlde’s Joie' to Mendelssohn's dramatic 'Elijah.' Audiences will be treated to performances by acclaimed artists like Eleanor Dennis and Geraint Bowen, with works by Dvořák and Howells adding to the festival's rich tapestry. Join us as we delve into each event's unique offerings and the timeless beauty of choral compositions.

Three Choirs Festival 2025: A Celebration of Choral Masterpieces

As the summer sun casts its warmth over Hereford, the Three Choirs Festival 2025 unfolds with a symphony of voices and orchestral brilliance. From the jubilant tones of Mathias’s 'This Worlde’s Joie' to the poignant strains of Howells’s 'Hymnus Paradisi', this year's festival promises a choral feast that transcends the ordinary. The Philharmonia Orchestra, accompanied by a stellar lineup of performers, brings to life the works of Dvořák, Coleridge-Taylor, Mendelssohn, and more, creating a tapestry of sound that resonates with both historical depth and contemporary artistry.

Echoes of Harmony: A Journey Through the Three Choirs Festival 2025

The Three Choirs Festival 2025 in Hereford promises a profound journey through the realms of choral music. From the exuberance of Mathias’s 'This Worlde’s Joie' to the profound depths of Howells’s 'Hymnus Paradisi', and the celebration of Coleridge-Taylor's legacy, the festival's line-up is a testament to the power of musical storytelling. Join us at the majestic Hereford Cathedral as we explore these emotive performances, which culminate in the epic drama of Mendelssohn’s 'Elijah'.

Voices of Harmony: A Journey Through the Three Choirs Festival 2025

We close this year’s Three Choirs Festival with Mendelssohn’s masterpiece, Elijah.

A breathtaking oratorio and epic drama of biblical proportions, prepare to be blown away by the full forces of the Festival Chorus and the Philharmonia Orchestra. The story of the prophet Elijah is brought to life through majestic choruses, beautiful solo arias, and dramatic orchestral passages, building to a fiery climax with Elijah’s ascent to heaven in a flaming chariot.

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Three Choirs Festival: Mendelssohn’s Elijah

Hereford Cathedral

Discover Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s stirring masterpiece The Atonement in a celebration of his 150th anniversary year.

Commissioned by the Three Choirs Festival, with the 1903 premiere conducted by the composer himself and a libretto by local writer Alice Parsons, this is an opportunity to hear a rarely performed gem with its lush, sweeping melodies and majestic grandeur.

Three Choirs Festival: The Atonement

A little piece of heaven and one of the greatest English choral pieces ever composed.

Written as an outpouring of grief after the death of his nine-year-old son, the heartbreakingly beautiful Hymnus Paradisi gives a deeply personal voice to Howells’s pain.

Three Choirs Festival: Howells’s Hymnus Paradisi

We return to our residency at the Three Choirs Festival for the opening weekend of the 2025 festival in Hereford.

Mathias’s glorious This Worlde’s Joie is the highlight of this year’s opening evening concert. Joyful and exuberant, this colourful work, full of uplifting voices and chiming bells, is paired with Dvořák’s Te Deum, an electrifying and ecstatic hymn of praise.

Three Choirs Festival: This Worlde’s Joie

Join us for a transcendent evening at the Worcester Cathedral on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, at 7:30 pm, as we present the Three Choirs Festival highlight: Elgar’s "The Kingdom," performed by the Philharmonia with Adrian Partington conducting. This event promises to be a stirring conclusion to our residency at the 2024 Three Choirs Festival, featuring a lineup of exceptional soloists including Anita Watson (soprano), Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano), Toby Spence (tenor), and Ross Ramgobin (baritone), alongside the Three Choirs Festival Chorus.

Elgar's "The Kingdom" continues the narrative begun in "The Apostles," bringing to life the stories of Peter, Mary, and the Apostles with its sublime melodies. The work, dedicated to the greater glory of God by Elgar himself, features the moving theme of New Faith, the glorious depiction of Pentecost, and the devotional setting of the Lord’s Prayer. This performance is not just a concert but an inspirational journey through music, led by the critically acclaimed tenor Toby Spence and a superb ensemble of soloists.

Tickets are priced between £15 and £68, offering a range of options to experience this magnificent close to the festival. The performance will last approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, without an interval, ensuring an evening of uninterrupted musical bliss. For more information or to purchase tickets once they go on sale, please contact the Three Choirs Festival Box Office at 01452 768928 or email info3choirs.org.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a memorable night that celebrates the legacy of Elgar and the collective talent of the Philharmonia and its guest artists at the historic Worcester Cathedral.

Three Choirs Festival: Elgar’s The Kingdom

Worcester Cathedral

Join us for a profound evening of music and reflection at the Three Choirs Festival: Mass for the Endangered, taking place in the majestic Worcester Cathedral on Monday, 29 July 2024, at 7:30 pm. This unique concert event promises to be a celebration of the natural world, featuring the Philharmonia and the Three Choirs Festival Chorus under the baton of conductor Samuel Hudson.

The evening will commence with the UK premiere of Cameron Biles-Liddell’s "Yr Afon Yn Yr Awyr" (The River in the Sky), a playful and evocative piece inspired by the River Dee's journey through the Welsh landscape. Following this, the audience will be treated to Judith Weir’s "O Sweet Spontaneous Earth," a setting of three poems that contemplate our relationship with our planet. The first half will conclude with Edward Elgar’s beloved "Serenade for Strings," a piece cherished by the composer himself.

The highlight of the concert will be Sarah Kirkland Snider’s "Mass for the Endangered," a powerful and immersive work that combines music of intense beauty with words of deep concern for our planet. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of choral music traditions, Snider creates a prayerful and contemplative mass that serves as both a celebration of and a lament for the natural world.

Tickets are priced between £15 and £63, and the concert will run for approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including an interval. For more information or to purchase tickets once they go on sale, please contact the Three Choirs Festival Box Office at 01452 768928 or email info3choirs.org.

Don't miss this stunning evening of music that promises to leave you profoundly moved and more connected to the world around us.

Three Choirs Festival: Mass for the Endangered

**Event: Three Choirs Festival: The Cloud Messenger**

**Date & Time:** Sunday 28 July 2024, 7.30pm

**Venue:** Worcester Cathedral

**Ticket Prices:** £15 - £63

**On Sale:** Coming soon

**Overview:**
Immerse yourself in an evening of exotic romantic fantasy with "The Cloud Messenger" at the prestigious Three Choirs Festival, held in the magnificent Worcester Cathedral. This rich sung epic, inspired by Indian stories and beliefs, promises to transport the audience to a remote and colorful paradise through its vibrant music and compelling narrative.

**Artists:**
- **Conductor:** Geraint Bowen
- **Mezzo-Soprano:** Beth Taylor
- **Featuring:** Three Choirs Festival Voices

**Programme Highlights:**
- **World Premiere:** Nathan James Dearden's New work
- **Weir:** Still, Glowing
- **Respighi:** The Birds
- **Holst:** The Cloud Messenger

**Special Features:**
- Holst's "The Cloud Messenger" sets a Sanskrit poem to music, telling the story of a nature spirit who convinces a passing cloud to carry a love message to his distant wife in the Himalayas.
- Nathan James Dearden’s Festival commission offers a series of choral landscapes that echo messages from history to future generations.
- Respighi's "The Birds" brings to life the movements and songs of birds through lively and extraordinary music.

**Additional Information:**
- **Running Time:** 1 hr 45 mins, including an interval
- **Box Office Contact:** Three Choirs Festival Box Office: 01452 768928 | info3choirs.org

Join us for an unforgettable evening that blends the beauty of choral music with the mystique of ancient tales, all set against the backdrop of one of England's most historic cathedrals.

Three Choirs Festival: The Cloud Messenger

Immerse yourself in a night of ethereal music and compelling performances at the Three Choirs Festival: Stanford’s Stabat Mater, taking place at the majestic Worcester Cathedral on Saturday, 27 July 2024, at 7.30pm. This event promises an unforgettable experience as the Philharmonia brings to life a selection of works that span the emotional spectrum of classical music.

Under the baton of conductor Samuel Hudson, the evening will feature the talents of Rebecca Hardwick (soprano), Marta Fontanals-Simmons (mezzo-soprano), Nicky Spence (tenor), and Themba Mvula (baritone), alongside the harmonious voices of the Three Choirs Festival Chorus and the Worcester Cathedral Choristers.

The programme will open with Grace-Evangeline Mason’s "The Imagined Forest," a mesmerizing musical portrayal of a vibrant woodland, followed by Holst’s "Hymn of Jesus," a piece that offers a joyful yet profound response to the sorrows of the First World War. The highlight of the evening, Stanford's "Stabat Mater," promises a moving journey through the Passion and the sorrows of Mary, culminating in a message of hope and redemption.

Tickets are priced between £15 and £68, offering a range of options for attendees. The performance will last approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including an interval, making for an evening filled with beauty, reflection, and inspiration.

For more information or to purchase tickets once they go on sale, please contact the Three Choirs Festival Box Office at 01452 768928 or email info3choirs.org. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a truly magical evening at one of the UK’s most revered music festivals.

Three Choirs Festival Chorus

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Three Choirs Festival: Mendelssohn’s Elijah

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Three Choirs Festival: The Atonement

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