Thames Philharmonic Choir, Thames Festival Orchestra

This concert features choirs, full orchestra, and tenor and baritone soloists, in two beautifull contrasted works. Vaughan Williams’ visionary and powerful Sancta Civitas is based upon the Bible’s Revelation of St John the Divine, in which the holy city of the title is seen in a vision coming down to earth from Heaven. Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, composed at the age of 21 as his graduation exercise, is a tour de force of brilliant potential.