Helen Charlston performs in the 33rd Christmas Festival at St John’s Smith Square with The English Concert

Cecilia Osmond (soprano)
Rebecca Outram (soprano)
Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano)
Nick Pritchard (tenor)
Marcus Farnsworth (baritone)
Laurence Cummings (conductor)

Programme:

Scarlatti: Missa per il Santíssimo Natale
Gabrieli: O magnum mysterium
Gallus: Omnes Saba
Bach: Cantata ‘Selig ist der Mann’ BWV57
Bach: Cantata ‘Ich feue mich in dir’ BWV133

Famed for his operatic writing, Alessandro Scarlatti’s liturgical music has been shamefully overlooked. His skilful crafting of the Missa per il Santíssimo Natale, with double choirs and such variety of colour and texture, is enough to leave us searching the archives for even more treasures.