English Chamber Choir by Various, Ó (2022/2022), Seoltóir Guy Protheroe, Cadogan Hall, London, United Kingdom

The English Chamber Choir sang its first concert in March 1972 and rapidly established a reputation for performing music from across the centuries, from Thomas Tallis to Benjamin Britten, from the Eastern Orthodox tradition to American post-romantic, as well as with ‘popular’ music artists such as Vangelis, Rick Wakeman and The Who. In its 50th anniversary year, the Choir is performing several concerts which reflect this diversity. This concert features two of the best-loved works of Bach and Handel, performed together with its own orchestra, the English Players, on period instruments. Dixit Dominus was composed when Handel was visiting Italy in his early years and is full of the exuberance which so characterised his early works written in Latin. Bach’s Magnificat is equally joyous, and one of his more festive pieces – maybe a smaller but equally perfectly formed companion to his great Mass in B Minor.