Finzi’s For St Cecilia; Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast; Bridge’s The Sea
7:30 pm, Saturday 22 Nov 2025
Salisbury Cathedral
Online sales for this concert are now closed. Remaining tickets will be
on sale at the Cathedral box office in the Consistory Court, from 7 pm.
Salisbury Musical Society
Farrant Singers
Chelsea Opera Group Orchestra
Soloists:
Elgan Llŷr Thomas - tenor
Dan D'Souza - baritone
David Halls - conductor
About the Concert Programme
Belshazzar’s Feast is a powerful work: both grand in scale and impact; to do it justice it needs a large choir, a sizeable orchestra, with a significant brass section and a dazzling array of percussion as well as an organ to present this masterpiece, which brings to life the biblical story of Belshazzar. SMS is delighted to be joined by the Farrant Singers on this occasion.
This work is divided into three sections:
The first section highlights the opulence and decadence of the Babylonian court contrasting with misery of the Israelites who are in exile in Babylon longing for their freedom.
The second section depicts the chaos at Belshazzar’s lavish feast at which he commits a shocking act of sacrilege by allowing his guests to drink from the stolen Israelite’s sacred vessels. An ominous warning appears, as a disembodied hand writes on the wall and the mighty Belshazzar’s days are numbered for dishonouring God.
The final section is one of celebration. Belshazzar has been mysteriously killed, the kingdom of Babylon has fallen and the Israelites have regained their freedom. They rejoice with triumphant jubilation ‘Alleluia! Alleluia!” The powerful final chord, rings out a victorious sound, one of divine justice.
A commanding baritone soloist, Dan D’Souza, acts as both the narrator and as a prophet, recounting the story with a mix of theatrical declamation and lyrical beauty.
The choir will also perform Finzi’s For St Cecilia. This is fitting as St Cecilia’s day is celebrated each year, on 22nd November. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musicians, and her feast day has inspired many musical works, including pieces by Henry Purcell, George Frideric Handel, and Benjamin Britten. This beautiful cantata celebrates the power of music and its divine inspiration.
The concert will conclude with Frank Bridge’s The Sea; a richly evocative orchestral suite that captures the changing moods and vast beauty of the ocean in four vivid movements.
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
Belshazzar’s Feast is a powerful work: both grand in scale and impact; to do it justice it needs a large choir, a sizeable orchestra, with a significant brass section and a dazzling array of percussion as well as an organ to present this masterpiece, which brings to life the biblical story of Belshazzar. SMS is delighted to be joined by the Farrant Singers on this occasion.
This work is divided into three sections:
The first section highlights the opulence and decadence of the Babylonian court contrasting with misery of the Israelites who are in exile in Babylon longing for their freedom.
The second section depicts the chaos at Belshazzar’s lavish feast at which he commits a shocking act of sacrilege by allowing his guests to drink from the stolen Israelite’s sacred vessels. An ominous warning appears, as a disembodied hand writes on the wall and the mighty Belshazzar’s days are numbered for dishonouring God.
The final section is one of celebration. Belshazzar has been mysteriously killed, the kingdom of Babylon has fallen and the Israelites have regained their freedom. They rejoice with triumphant jubilation ‘Alleluia! Alleluia!” The powerful final chord, rings out a victorious sound, one of divine justice.
A commanding baritone soloist, Dan D’Souza, acts as both the narrator and as a prophet, recounting the story with a mix of theatrical declamation and lyrical beauty.
The choir will also perform Finzi’s For St Cecilia. This is fitting as St Cecilia’s day is celebrated each year, on 22nd November. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musicians, and her feast day has inspired many musical works, including pieces by Henry Purcell, George Frideric Handel, and Benjamin Britten. This beautiful cantata celebrates the power of music and its divine inspiration.
The concert will conclude with Frank Bridge’s The Sea; a richly evocative orchestral suite that captures the changing moods and vast beauty of the ocean in four vivid movements.
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 Walton referred to his great work as ‘Belly’s Binge’? Read more about the composers in this concert
“After the last chord died away the whole audience was spell-bound for 20 seconds before tumultuous applause broke out”
Richard Godfrey 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
Main entrance and exit via North porch
Wheelchairs and carers
Exit via Consistory Court
Exit via South transept and cloisters
