Enlightenment! Music by Haydn & Mozart

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Bradford on Avon Choral Society are returning to the beautiful setting of Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Bradford, to perform a concert of music by Haydn and Mozart. The three pieces in the evening's programme were composed between the years 1779 and1798 during a period of great artistic blossoming known as "The Age of Enlightenment".
Vesperae Solennes was composed by Mozart in 1780 for performance in Salzburg Cathedral. One of its 6 movements, the lovely Laudate Dominum, with its shimmering soprano solo, is well known and often performed as a stand-alone piece.
Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola, is considered his most successful realization of this type of composition. The violin soloist is the celebrated Rafael Todes, with the viola part taken by accomplished player Tom Beer.
The "Nelson mass" was called by Haydn himself "Mass for Troubled Times" as a reflection of the threat to Austria from Napoleon's forces- perhaps with a resonance for our world today. It acquired its nickname after Nelson's victory at the Nile showed that the French were not invincible. It is considered "arguably Haydn's greatest single composition".
The singers performing with Bradford Choral are Emily Bradley (soprano) Marie Elliott (mezzo soprano) Joshua Owen Mills (tenor) and Thomas Humphreys (bass). The orchestra is led by Maxim Del Mar and the performance is conducted by Alan Burgess. Since taking over the role of Musical Director at Bradford Choral Alan has used his considerable musical skills, and particularly his experience of working with choirs, to create performances of great beauty.