Coronation: Music Inspired by Royalty

From the 1727 coronation of King George II to King Charles III in 2023, Key Chorale presents some of the most striking music inspired by royalty. Soprano Mary Wilson brings her dazzling virtuosity to Handel’s sublime Let the Bright Seraphim, Eternal Source of Light Divine and Mozart’s captivating Coronation Mass.

Enjoy more modern celebrations of the royals with themes from Netflix’s The Crown, The Tudors and the 4-time Oscar winning movie The King’s Speech.

GUEST ARTISTS SPONSORS
Deborah & Sean Mahony
GUEST ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE SPONSORS
Phil Butler & Nadine Thomas

What’s Interesting About This Concert

• Come hear critically acclaimed soprano Mary Wilson who is perfectly suited to this repertoire. Opera News declared, “Wilson’s luminous voice contains so much charisma.” The St. Louis Post Dispatch said she was “more than up to its challenges, giving a bravura performance that had the audience on its feet in a spontaneous standing ovation.”
• Mozart’s Coronation Mass is a mini masterpiece. In only 30 minutes he gives us more great music per minute than any other composer. Written for Easter service in 1799, with full festive brass and timpani, alongside the Agnus Dei considered one of Mozart’s finest soprano arias.
• John Tavener’s Song for Athene: Alleluia. May Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest combines the spiritual and the mystical with chant-like melodies over a Byzantine-like drone. It has become Tavener’s best-known choral work after it was sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 in Westminster Abbey as her cortège left the Abbey.

The Program

The King Shall Rejoice ~ George Fredrick Handel

The Crown Main Title ~ Hans Zimmer

The Tudor’s Main Titles ~ Trevor Morris

Eternal Source of Light Divine from Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne ~ George Fredrick Handel

Touch her soft lips and part ~ William Walton

Alleluia. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest (Song for Athene) ~ John Tavener

Pavane ~ Gabriel Fauré

Let the Bright Seraphim and Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite ~ George Fredrick Handel

INTERMISSION

Theme from the King’s Speech Suite ~ Alexandre Desplat

Coronation Mass ~ Mozart