Concert: Proms at St Jude’s

Date: Friday 26 June 2015, 7.45 pm    Venue: St Jude on the Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London NW11

Music for the Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel or private chapel contained in the papal apartments in Rome is one of the most stunning artistic achievements of the world. Built between 1475 and 1483 as the palatine chapel it takes its name from the Pope who commissioned its building, Sixtus IV. It is used today not only for liturgies but also for holding the conclave to choose the pope.  The best artistry was poured into this building, most famously Michaelangelo’s decoration of the ceiling and music also was an essential part of its history. The great composers who lived, studied and worked in Rome no matter how briefly would have contributed pieces. Chief amongst their number is the masterful Palestrina represented here by a stunning mass in honour of the Virgin Mary and a selection of motets. Here also is the Spaniard Victoria who spent most of his working life in Rome together with an example of earlier writing from Master Josquin. The Sistine Chapel’s great musical secret, the Miserere of Allegri sits at the head of the second half alongside Christus resurgens, just to prove that this composer wrote more than one piece of music!

Booking opens April 20th 2015

www.promsatstjudes.org.uk