SALISBURY Cathedral will be hosting the popular Southern Cathedrals Festival next week.

This will see cathedral choirs of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester combine for five days celebrating the glorious tradition of music in cathedrals, with concerts, services and talks.

The festival, which takes place from Wednesday (July 16) to Sunday (July 20), begins with a ‘Come and Sing’ workshop, directed by Sir John Rutter, and with a concert of music by Haydn and Rutter in the evening, combining members of the workshop, Salisbury Cathedral Choir and the Cathedral’s Chamber, Junior and Youth Choirs.

The programme has been devised to highlight the anniversaries of several important composers this year.

As well as celebrating John Rutter’s 80th birthday, there will be a concert of music by Palestrina and Gibbons on Friday (July 18) to mark the 500th anniversary of Palestrina’s birth, and the 400th anniversary of Orlando Gibbons’ death.

This will be sung by the cathedral choirs, accompanied by the Rose Consort of Viols.

On Saturday (July 19), a concert of Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Mozart’s Vespers, sung by the full force of the combined choristers and Lay Vicars of the three cathedrals, will be accompanied by The Hanover band.

Other highlights of the festival include a Piano Trio Concert of Mendelssohn and Ravel on Thursday (July 17) to mark 150 years since Ravel’s birth, performed by Daphne Moody, Bryony Moody and David Halls, Salisbury Cathedral’s Director of Music.

There will also be a performance by one of Europe’s leading lute players, Salisbury based Elizabeth Kenny, at 2.30pm on Saturday (July 19) in St Thomas’ Church, Salisbury.

Another major event in the programme, Salisbury’s Senior Lay Vicar Stephen Abbott will reflect on his many years of service to the music of Salisbury Cathedral with his talk In Quires and Places on Friday (July 18).

The Southern Cathedrals Festival ends on Sunday (July 20) with two services sung by the full Salisbury Cathedral Choir (adults, boys and girls) in Salisbury Cathedral.

David Halls, Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral, said: “We treasure the friendship between the cathedrals and communities of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester.

“We look forward to honouring the beauty of the choral tradition with high quality performances across seven sung services and eight concerts.”

Tickets for the Southern Cathedral Festival can be purchased via the Cathedral website: https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/scf/