Special Horsham concert to remember those we have lost

Evening Devotion, Eternal Rest offers an evening of Mozart to remember those we have lost.

The concert features West Sussex Philharmonic Choir, Orpheus Sinfonia and four professional soloists, conducted by Jonathan Lucas Wood, on Saturday, November 7 at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Horsham.

Jonathan said: “Join us for a special performance of Mozart’s Requiem and Solemn Vespers K. 339 to remember and celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us.”

Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/35jf9san

“As autumn draws in and we approach one of the most reflective periods of the year, music offers a particularly powerful way to remember those who are no longer with us. On Saturday November 7 at 7.30pm, audiences are invited to St Mary’s Church, Horsham, for an evening of extraordinary music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as Evening Devotion, Eternal Rest brings together two of his most treasured sacred works in a concert of remembrance, reflection and musical beauty.

“Taking place between All Souls’ Day and Remembrance Sunday, the concert has been thoughtfully conceived as an opportunity to pause, reflect and commemorate loved ones and all those whose lives have touched our own. Mozart’s music, with its extraordinary combination of emotional intensity, tenderness and spiritual depth, provides the perfect setting for such an occasion.

“At the heart of the programme is Mozart’s magnificent Requiem, one of the most celebrated and compelling works in the entire choral repertoire. Left unfinished at the time of his death in December 1791, the Requiem has fascinated audiences for generations. Its dramatic opening, moments of overwhelming intensity and passages of extraordinary serenity make it a deeply moving musical journey through the themes of mortality, judgement, hope and eternal rest.

“This performance will use the completion by Franz Xaver Süssmayr, the version most familiar to audiences and the one that has become established in concert halls around the world. From the thunderous drama of the Dies Irae to the haunting beauty of the Lacrimosa, the Requiem is a work that continues to speak directly to listeners more than two centuries after it was written.

“Alongside the Requiem is another jewel of Mozart’s sacred music: his Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (K.339). Composed in 1780 for use in Salzburg Cathedral, this beautifully crafted work demonstrates a rather different side of Mozart’s musical personality. Full of lyrical elegance, radiant choral writing and moments of operatic brilliance, it culminates in the famous Laudate Dominum, a sublime soprano solo that is among the most beautiful melodies Mozart ever wrote. Its combination of intimate devotion and joyful celebration provides a wonderful contrast to the darker, more contemplative world of the Requiem.

“Together, these two works offer a remarkable portrait of Mozart’s genius, revealing both the profound spirituality and the sheer musical vitality that make his music so enduringly loved.”

The concert features the West Sussex Philharmonic Choir, under the direction of conductor Jonathan Lucas Wood. They will be joined by the Orpheus Sinfonia, alongside four professional soloists: soprano Jessica Wise, alto Angharad Rowlands, tenor Richard Dowling and bass Tim Mirfin.

“For those who regularly enjoy classical music, this is an opportunity to experience two masterpieces in a single evening. For anyone who has never attended a major choral concert before, it is an ideal introduction to the extraordinary emotional power of live music. Whether you come to remember someone special, to enjoy Mozart at his finest, or simply to experience an evening of beautiful and inspiring music, there will be something profoundly meaningful to take away.

“In a world that often moves too quickly, Evening Devotion, Eternal Rest offers an opportunity to stop, listen and reflect. It promises to be an evening not simply of great music, but of shared remembrance and humanity.”