Hail! Bright Cecilia

Performers

Musical Director – Matthew Jeffrey

Orchestra Leader – Anna Cockroft

Soprano  – Julia Featherstone

Mezzo-Soprano – Alice Risdon

Tenor – Michael Graham

Bass – Julian Rippon

Our first concert with our new musical director Matthew Jeffrey will take place on 22nd November, which just so happens to be St. Cecilia’s Day. To mark this, we will be performing Purcell’s Ode for St. Cecelia’s Day, also known as Hail! Bright Cecelia. The text references various instruments throughout (the airy violin, the amorous flute etc.), and Purcell uses these to great effect, usually in conversation with the soloist. The colourful arias, duets, trios, and quartets are interspersed with boisterous, grand choruses..

Matthew adds: “It would feel wrong for my first concert with the Exeter Bach Choir to not include Bach in some form, so this is paired with CPE Bach’s Magnificat. This setting was the first major choral work that survives from CPE Bach, and was composed in 1749, the same year his father composed and assembled his Mass in B minor. Although this setting is less famous than that of his father, it is no less worthy of performance. The entire piece is brimming with energy, with electric choruses, and virtuosic arias and duets”