Hail! Bright Cecilia

Programme       

Henry Purcell (1659 – 1695)      Hail! Bright Cecilia

Synopsis

Purcell’s Hail! Bright Cecilia (1692), also known as the Ode to St Cecilia, is a magnificent celebration of music and its power to move the human soul. Written in honour of St Cecilia, the patron saint of music, the work brings together solo voices, chorus and orchestra in a vivid succession of movements that praise the expressive power of different instruments and the harmony they create. From exuberant choruses to intimate, lyrical passages, Purcell’s ode is a dazzling tribute to music itself.