Saturday Concert 25 September at 7.30pm

Monteverdi: Vespers
  sopranos:  Faye Newton & Catherine King 
tenors:  Charles Daniels & Nicholas Mulroy
Dore Abbey, Herefordshire HR2 0AA

Marking the climax of this year's choral landmarks' celebrations,
Monteverdi's breathtaking music is a feast for the ear.
Its dramatic power helped set sacred music on a new path of discovery.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear it!

tickets: £15, restricted view £12
ring Abergavenny Music on 01873 853394 for tickets

Our 2010 series has marked the 400th anniversary of Monteverdi's great 1610 Vespers publication which, by stretching the boundaries of choral writing, has come to represent a decisive turning point in its development. With Monteverdi's wonderful Vespers music at its apex, Unicorn's 2010 programme has featured other key sacred pieces that mark breakthroughs in composition. Many of these choral 'hotspots' have been heard in the context of the divine office for which they were intended, contrasting a variety of services and countries.

During our itinerary we have been eavesdropping on Palestrina in 16th century Rome, on Schütz in 17th century Dresden and Machaut in 14th century Paris, and encountered music of outstanding originality & beauty. The dazzling polyphony of Palestrina, the pioneering work of the medieval composers at Notre Dame, Tallis' sumptuous apotheosis of the English Renaissance, and the groundbreaking Bible settings of Heinrich Schütz. A musical journey that literally breaks the sound barriers!