2026-27 SEASON: CELEBRATING OUR 75TH ANNIVERSAY IN STYLE!
| Type of post: | Choir news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | Katy Lethbridge |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Fri, 17 Apr 2026 |
2026/27 - Join our innovative and exciting 75th Anniversary season
AUTUMN CONCERT - 07 November 2026
A BRITISH CHORAL CELEBRATION: Stanford Mass in G & Rutter Magnificat
These 2 magnificent works demonstrate the richness and variety of British choral music. Stanford’s Mass in G Major, one of the most substantial Latin choral works Britain produced in the 19th Century, received its world première recording in 2014, featuring the Choir of Exeter College Oxford directed by George de Voil, now the MD of Wokingham Choral Society. WCS will give what is believed to be only the second ever concert performance of this opulent Mass, from a new meticulously prepared edition by George de Voil and James Speakman. The vivid colours of this tuneful and characterful masterpiece will come to life through such diverse influences as Schubert, Dvorak, Bruckner and Beethoven. In contrast, John Rutter composed his extended setting of the Magnificat in 1990 with colourful Latin American influences, making it a joyful piece which weaves the 15th-century English poem 'Of a Rose, a lovely Rose' around the traditional liturgical text of the Magnificat. With symphony orchestra and professional soloists.
A CELEBRATORY CHRISTMAS CONCERT - 05 December 2026
To include a previously commissioned work for WCS, ‘Wokingham Wassail’, a fun seasonal medley by Simon Wright.
SPRING CONCERT - 20 March 2027
'WAR & PEACE': Haydn Nelson Mass, Vivaldi & Bach
Haydn’s Nelson Mass is more formally known as the Missa in angustiis, meaning ‘Mass for troubled times’, an apposite work for current times. It has been described as ‘arguably Haydn's greatest single composition’. We will perform Haydn’s original ‘dark’ orchestra version with organ, strings, trumpets and timpani.
SUMMER CONCERT - 19 June 2027
'A DIAMOND CLELBRATION!'
Our summer concert will be a wonderful celebration of our 75 years as Wokingham Choral Society. The concert will feature a new commission for WCS by James Speakman. Based on the poem by Siegfried Sassoon Everyone Sang, with a final soaring phrase ‘the singing will never be done’, this piece will perfectly encapsulate the choral singer’s experience. 2027 is also the 60th anniversary of Sassoon’s death, which will make our commissioned work a double celebration.
Go to our EVENTS PAGE to learn more.
Go to our EVENTS PAGE to learn more.
