A Concert for St Cecilia, by Leeds Baroque Chorus & Orchestra at Leeds University

Sunday, 23rd November saw the final concert from Leeds Baroque Chorus & Orchestra in their 25th Anniversary Season, and what a way to finish it off. As with the first presentation of the year, we were at Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall in Leeds University and the whole ensemble was present. St Cecilia, whose Feast Day is 22nd November, is the patron saint of music, singers and poets, so was well catered for here with all three in abundance; the first two in person and the latter providing the words to the featured pieces.

The programme was very varied in style – Baroque is a period rather than a genre – and so we had everything from gentle songs, through regal anthems to full blown, sometimes literally, bring-the-roof-down works.

The first piece was by Purcell, a symphony set to a poem by Christopher Fishburn, called “Welcome all the pleasures”. It was penned – or quilled – in praise of St Cecilia, specifically to be played on her feast day in 1683. It doesn’t mention her name until the end, the build up being a list of all the ways in which music is one of life’s great pleasures. It was obviously well before the time of Sid Vicious.

The work was split into six movements: three trios, two airs and a solo. The trios were performed by a combination of Philippa Hyde, Stuart O’Hara, Nicki Sapiro, Peter Davoren and Francis Gush, the last two of which also sang airs; the solo was by Zachary Kleanthous and the chorus.

Peter Holman, the director and conductor, told us that this could well be the first time it had been performed in public since its premiere in the 17th century. I didn’t think it was that bad, in fact it was superb, but what do I know.

Francis Gush, Peter Davoren, Stuart O’Hara and Philippa Hyde.

The second work was “The charms of harmony display” by Boyce, no, not the dodgy car salesman from Only Fools and Horses, but William of that ilk, who lived between 1711 and 1779. The words were by Peter Vidal.

This was another symphony in five movements: one trio, two airs and two choruses. The Trio was Philippa Hyde, Francis Gush and Stuart O’Hara, the chaps taking an air each. The chorus added a large amount of heft to the piece, as did the trumpets, making it full of pomp.

The Chorus, Chorusmaster Bryan White.

The final piece was “From harmony, from heavenly harmony” the poem by John Dryden with music by Handel. This comprised twelve stanzas, covering the full spectrum of styles. It began with an overture – obviously – being followed by a recitative from Peter Davoren; a chorus, an air sung by Philippa Hyde, another air by Peter Davoren – this time with the chorus, a third air from Philippa Hyde with flute and lute solos by Sarah McNulty and Sam Brown and another air from Peter Davoren. The incredible Philippa Hyde then more or less took over the piece with two more airs, the first with organ solo from Chris Roberts, a recitative and finally a solo with the chorus, which was a wonderful climax to both the concert and the 25th series. Trust me to be 24 years late for the party. They are obviously very pedantic in the way they perform, splitting airs at every opportunity

The Orchestra, conducted by Director, Peter Holman, Leader Asuka Sumi.

There really is nothing like live music for lifting the spirits, especially when it is performed by such a professional group of musicians such as this, who obviously love what they do, and pass that enthusiasm on to the audience so spectacularly well.

The 26th Season kicks off on 1st March, 2026, with “Music for the Sun King”, at The Grammar School at Leeds, so, should you be an aficionado or, like me, a casual listener to classical music, I am sure you could do no better on the first day of meteorological Spring, than to pop along and shake off the winter blues. That has ensured six feet of snow on St David’a Day!

For full details of both the Leeds Baroque Choir and Orchestra and the forthcoming season, please go to https://leedsbaroque.co.uk/

Photographs by Stan Graham