Tchaikovsky Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Saturday 28th January 2023

Ely Cathedral with Ipswich Choral Society

Saturday 4th February 2023

The Chapel of St Augustine, Tonbridge School

We performed Tchaikovsky’s settings of texts taken from the Divine
Liturgy of St John Chrysostom. We had performed it the previous week in Ely Cathedral which has been an amazing experience – collaborating with Ipswich Choral Society. For our own concert we were in chapel in Tonbridge School.

This is the most celebrated of the Eucharistic services of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Tchaikovsky felt a deep connection with this part of Orthodox worship, writing to a friend that, ‘it is impossible not to be profoundly moved by the liturgy of our own Orthodox Church… to be startled from one’s trance by a burst from the choir; to be carried away by the poetry of this music; to be thrilled when… the words ring out, ‘Praise the name of the Lord!’ – all this is infinitely precious to me! One of my deepest joys!’

The concert opened with a setting of the Prayer for Ukraine. It took place in the glorious setting of St. Augustine Chapel at Tonbridge School.

The programme also featured solo organ pieces including works by Dupré, Vierne, Rheinberger and Reger; this was an opportunity to hear the marvellous Marcussen Organ in the chapel.

Intense and stirring, made all the more thrilling in the
atmosphere of the chapel, we hope you enjoyed our performance as much as we did.