Worcester Festival Choral Society: Poulenc: Gloria / Vaughan Williams: Hodie

A feast of beautiful 20th century choral music comes to Worcester this November, as one of the region’s most accomplished choirs, Worcester Festival Choral Society, performs Vaughan Williams’s glorious ‘Christmas Cantata’ Hodie (This Day), and Poulenc’s celebrated Gloria.

Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Hodie was the composer’s last major choral-orchestral work. Celebratory and richly scored, this brilliant musical mosaic was first conducted by Vaughan Williams himself at Worcester Cathedral as part of the Three Choirs Festival in 1954. WFCS is proud to reprise the work in the same nave, 64 years later.

The choir also performs Francis Poulenc’s celebrated Gloria, which brims with ingenious musical expression, great beauty and a sense of pure enjoyment.

Performing with the 150 members of Worcester Festival Choral Society – many of whom are selected to sing in the annual Three Choirs Festival chorus – will be the Meridian Sinfonia and acclaimed soloists.