Experience Echoes of Eternity: Grand choral celebration at Bradford Cathedral, June 14

On Saturday 14 June, Bradford Festival Choral Society (BFCS) invites you to experience Echoes of Eternity – a concert that celebrates both musical majesty and the enduring power of community through the human voice.

Following the resounding success of their March concert at St George’s Hall – where over 200 performers joined together in a spectacular evening of music and multicultural unity – we return to more intimate yet no less awe-inspiring surroundings. This next performance offers audiences the chance to be immersed in an exquisite tapestry of choral music, from the ancient to the contemporary, the local to the legendary.

A performance with proud history

At the heart of the programme is a remarkable pairing of two works by Sir Hubert Parry – I Was Glad, recently heard at the Coronation of King Charles III, and Blest Pair of Sirens, conducted by the composer himself with BFCS in 1895. Of that historic performance, the choir's own records proudly state:

“The work was conducted by the composer who warmly complimented both band and chorus for the admirable manner in which it was given. His genial and affable demeanour as a conductor rendered Dr Parry a great favourite with members of the chorus.”

To sing this beloved music again in 2025 is to step into a living tradition – one that connects the choir not only with a glorious musical past but with generations of singers who have given voice to this city’s cultural heart since 1856.

But this is no exercise in nostalgia. Echoes of Eternity embraces contemporary choral music. Gregorian chant (Ave maris stella) meets its bold reimagining in a vibrant setting by Judith Weir, Master of the King’s Music 2014-2024. The Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir offers an otherworldly moment of stillness in Heyr þú oss himnum á (“Hear us in heaven”), creating a space for contemplation amid grandeur.

There are also newly composed motets by musicians with strong Yorkshire connections – Daniel Justin and Anthony Gray – fresh, expressive works by talented composers who are making their mark on the choral scene.

Anchoring the evening is Louis Vierne’s Messe Solennelle, a French masterpiece written for the mighty organ of Notre Dame Cathedral. Its monumental beauty will resonate powerfully in the stunning acoustics of Bradford Cathedral, with brilliant William Campbell (Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral) at the console and the choir’s Musical Director Thomas Leech holding the baton.

Connect in time

At a time when connection and meaning feel more precious than ever, this concert offers both – in abundance. The music speaks of eternity, but also of now: of who we are as a community, a city, and a society. This is a performance not to be missed. Let your spirit be lifted!

Getting to Bradford Cathedral: the hidden gem of Bradford Cathedral is most easily accessible with a 5-6 minute walk from Bradford Forster Square Train Station or a 10-12 minute walk from Bradford Interchange. There is also plentiful parking in the adjacent Bradford Broadway Centre. For more information and other options see Bradford Cathedral website.

Echoes of Eternity: Music for Choir and Organ Bradford Cathedral Saturday 14 June, 6pm Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bfcs

Have you been inspired by Gareth Malone’s Messiah on the BBC recently? Following their visit to Bradford Cathedral in June, Bradford Festival Choral Society’s next season kicks off with rehearsals in September for Handel’s Messiah – they return to their historic home of St George’s Hall with Baroque in the North on period instruments for this masterpiece on 15 November.

Handel: Messiah St George’s Hall, Bradford Saturday 15 November, 7pm Tickets: https://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/handels-messiah