Handel’s Dixit Dominus is one of his most dazzling works. Composed in Rome in 1707 when Handel was just 22 years old, it reveals how the young composer absorbed the energy and theatricality of the Italian music whilst also creating music of remarkable poise and spiritual intensity.
Purcell wrote his most famous verse anthem Rejoice in the Lord Alway when he was 25. His celebratory ode Ye Tuneful Muses was composed a few years later in 1686, as court was returning from Windsor to Whitehall. Both are rich in word painting, pointing to the composer’s dramatic flair.
Together, these works create a programme that moves between grandeur and intimacy, celebration and contemplation, showcasing the extraordinary variety, vitality and emotional depth of Baroque choral music.