THE LINE OF BEAUTY: Celebrating Palestrina & his impact on 500 years of choral composition
Kings College Chapel, Taunton, South Road, TA1 3LA
Sunday 15th February 2026
Join us for an unforgettable evening of transcendent music as we celebrate the enduring legacy of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance whose influence has echoed through centuries of choral music.
At the heart of the programme is Palestrina’s breathtaking Missa Papae Marcelli, the legendary Mass said to have saved polyphonic music from being silenced by the Catholic Church. Around this cornerstone, we weave a rich tapestry of works that span half a millennium, each reflecting the profound impact of his genius.
From the understated brilliance of Brahms' Geistliches Lied to the shimmering mysticism of Caldara's 16-part Crucifixus, from the haunting minimalism of Arvo Pärt’s The Deer’s Cry to the contemporary elegance of Caroline Shaw’s And the swallow, this concert offers a powerful blend of beauty, history and innovation.
Andrea Brown conductor
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA Missa Papae Marcelli
GP PALESTRINA Exsultate Deo
THOMAS TALLIS Loquebantur Variis Linguis
GIACOMO CARISSIMI Plorate filii Israel
ANTONIO CALDARA Crucifixus à 16 voci
JOHANNES BRAHMS Geistliches Lied
OLA GJEILO Ubi Caritas
ARVO PÄRT The Deer’s Cry
CAROLINE SHAW And the swallow
At the heart of the programme is Palestrina’s breathtaking Missa Papae Marcelli, the legendary Mass said to have saved polyphonic music from being silenced by the Catholic Church. Around this cornerstone, we weave a rich tapestry of works that span half a millennium, each reflecting the profound impact of his genius.
From the understated brilliance of Brahms' Geistliches Lied to the shimmering mysticism of Caldara's 16-part Crucifixus, from the haunting minimalism of Arvo Pärt’s The Deer’s Cry to the contemporary elegance of Caroline Shaw’s And the swallow, this concert offers a powerful blend of beauty, history and innovation.
Andrea Brown conductor
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA Missa Papae Marcelli
GP PALESTRINA Exsultate Deo
THOMAS TALLIS Loquebantur Variis Linguis
GIACOMO CARISSIMI Plorate filii Israel
ANTONIO CALDARA Crucifixus à 16 voci
JOHANNES BRAHMS Geistliches Lied
OLA GJEILO Ubi Caritas
ARVO PÄRT The Deer’s Cry
CAROLINE SHAW And the swallow
