Concert marks St John’s Cathedral anniversary

A 13-piece orchestra joined the Cathedral Schola singers in a concert made possible by the government’s Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage, and which celebrated the anniversary of the dedication of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich.

The unique occasion on June 19, was the first time such an orchestra has played in the cathedral for at least six years, and also saw soprano Rosamund Walton and conductor Daniel Justin perform music from Mozart.

A socially-distanced audience of around 200 enjoyed Mozart’s stirring Coronation Mass, the virtuosic cantata Exsultate Jubilate and his setting of Vespers of a Confessor, featuring the very famous Laudate Dominum.

Master of Music at the cathedral, Daniel Justin, said: “We were celebrating the dedication of the cathedral, 64 years ago on June 26, 1957. We are staging the concert this year as a pilot to launch an annual concert to celebrate the role of music at the heart of the church.

“It is the first time since I joined the cathedral and diocese in 2015 that we have been able to use an orchestra thanks to the grant funding.

“The Cathedral Schola sing at Mass and Vespers every Sunday and the orchestra were made up of local professional musicians. It was funded by a grant from Heritage England, Historic England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport as part of the government’s Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage,” said Daniel.

A retiring collection was made to help support the Cathedral Music Fund.

Click here or see below for a full picture gallery. Pictures by Keith Morris/rcdea.org.uk.

Comments