Duruflé Requiem; Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region; Stanford Songs of the Sea
7:30 pm, Saturday 21 Mar 2026
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Musical Society
Chelsea Opera Group Orchestra
David Halls – conductor
Naomi Boot – mezzo-soprano
Jolyon Loy – baritone
About the Concert Programme
Salisbury Musical Society is delighted to perform Duruflé’s Requiem which is…without question…one of the most beautiful and timeless pieces of sacred music of the 20th century.
This choral work is based primarily on Gregorian chant and specifically the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead. It is made up of nine short movements, each with its own character and together they weave a journey through reflection, entreaty to quiet transcendence.
Duruflé’s Gregorian chant melodies with their rich impressionistic harmonies are joyous. This is a requiem with themes of comfort, hope and peace which might resonate in response to the relentless news of global conflicts and horrors of war.
The choir is at the heart of the performance: sometimes singing in perfect unison, with warm and blended voices; sometimes dividing into gentle, illuminating harmonies. The orchestra breathes with the choir, amplifying the chant-derived melodies, as the soloists come forth brilliantly from the choral texture.
Duruflé’s Requiem will soothe your soul…granting you time to pause, to enjoy moments of serenity and stillness.
This is a masterpiece of quiet intensity.
The choir will also perform Vaughan Williams: Toward the Unknown Region based on Walt Whitman’s poem.
The poem urges the reader to leave safety and certainty behind and to venture fearlessly into the future.
The music is uplifting, energetic and bold, with its broad sweeping melodies giving the choir a powerful unified voice. There is a steady, driving pulse giving a sense of journey and momentum. The climax of the piece is exhilarating as the music moves forward radiating purpose, optimism and adventure.
The final piece of music in the concert is Stanford’s Songs of the Sea an exciting choral journey across the waters, with rousing melodies, rich harmonies…this music evokes the power, the drama, as well as the beauty of the sea in a memorable soundscape.
Before buying tickets, please read this.
If you are using a mobile phone, you will find it much easier in landscape format. You can expand the seating chart or drag it around to see any seats you want. After you have selected your seats and paid, please wait to be returned to the confirmation page on our website. Here you will see a heading Tickets and below that a download link. You may print the tickets or display them on your mobile device. You will also receive emails to acknowledge and confirm your booking, and these also have download links.
Recent regulatory changes make it mandatory for buyers to enter a billing address. If this doesn’t match the address on your card or PayPal account, your transaction may fail.
Price guide
Nave front £40, nave rear £25, sides of stage £20, side aisles (unreserved, restricted view) £10. Wheelchair users and their carers £10.
Concessions for students with ID, and children
Accompanied under 18s and students with ID can claim a 50% discount for rear nave seats. This is limited to one discounted seat for each full price seat. Please use discount code JUNIOR-NOV2025 at the shopping basket.
Dress Code
Relax, the cathedral might look like a formal setting, but there is no need for the audience to reflect that. Casual dress is fine.
For help with buying tickets online, please email our IT manager or telephone 07867 520644.
About the Concert Programme
Salisbury Musical Society is delighted to perform Duruflé’s Requiem which is…without question…one of the most beautiful and timeless pieces of sacred music of the 20th century.
This choral work is based primarily on Gregorian chant and specifically the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead. It is made up of nine short movements, each with its own character and together they weave a journey through reflection, entreaty to quiet transcendence.
Duruflé’s Gregorian chant melodies with their rich impressionistic harmonies are joyous. This is a requiem with themes of comfort, hope and peace which might resonate in response to the relentless news of global conflicts and horrors of war.
The choir is at the heart of the performance: sometimes singing in perfect unison, with warm and blended voices; sometimes dividing into gentle, illuminating harmonies. The orchestra breathes with the choir, amplifying the chant-derived melodies, as the soloists come forth brilliantly from the choral texture.
Duruflé’s Requiem will soothe your soul…granting you time to pause, to enjoy moments of serenity and stillness.
This is a masterpiece of quiet intensity.
The choir will also perform Vaughan Williams: Toward the Unknown Region based on Walt Whitman’s poem.
The poem urges the reader to leave safety and certainty behind and to venture fearlessly into the future.
The music is uplifting, energetic and bold, with its broad sweeping melodies giving the choir a powerful unified voice. There is a steady, driving pulse giving a sense of journey and momentum. The climax of the piece is exhilarating as the music moves forward radiating purpose, optimism and adventure.
The final piece of music in the concert is Stanford’s Songs of the Sea an exciting choral journey across the waters, with rousing melodies, rich harmonies…this music evokes the power, the drama, as well as the beauty of the sea in a memorable soundscape.
Before buying tickets, please read this.
If you are using a mobile phone, you will find it much easier in landscape format. You can expand the seating chart or drag it around to see any seats you want. After you have selected your seats and paid, please wait to be returned to the confirmation page on our website. Here you will see a heading Tickets and below that a download link. You may print the tickets or display them on your mobile device. You will also receive emails to acknowledge and confirm your booking, and these also have download links.
Recent regulatory changes make it mandatory for buyers to enter a billing address. If this doesn’t match the address on your card or PayPal account, your transaction may fail.
Price guide
Nave front £40, nave rear £25, sides of stage £20, side aisles (unreserved, restricted view) £10. Wheelchair users and their carers £10.
Concessions for students with ID, and children
Accompanied under 18s and students with ID can claim a 50% discount for rear nave seats. This is limited to one discounted seat for each full price seat. Please use discount code JUNIOR-NOV2025 at the shopping basket.
Dress Code
Relax, the cathedral might look like a formal setting, but there is no need for the audience to reflect that. Casual dress is fine.
For help with buying tickets online, please email our IT manager or telephone 07867 520644.
Behind the Notes
Did you know Duruflé was an exacting perfectionist? Read more about the composers in this concert
“The choir parts positively blazed out…the voices cutting cleanly through the thick orchestral textures”
Stephen Lycett Reviewer
The Venue
Historic Salisbury Cathedral
This concert, like most of ours, takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Salisbury Cathedral, regarded as one of the leading examples of Early English Gothic architecture. If you don’t live in Salisbury, don’t worry — it’s easy to get to on public transport or by road.
Seating plan
After you have selected your seats and paid, please wait to be returned to the confirmation page on our website. Here you will see a heading Tickets and below that a download link. You may print the tickets or display them on your mobile device. You will also receive emails to acknowledge and confirm your booking, and these also have download links. If you are using a mobile phone, you will find it much easier in landscape format. You can expand the seating chart or drag it around to see any seats you want. Recent regulatory changes make it mandatory for buyers to enter a billing address. If this doesn’t match the address on your card or PayPal account, your transaction may fail.
Main entrance and exit via North porch
Wheelchairs and carers
Exit via Consistory Court
Exit via South transept and cloisters
