Opera Scotland

Vesperae solennes 2024Dundee Choral Union

Read more about the opera Vesperae solennes

Mozart's second setting of the Vespers texts, the Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339, doesn't appear with any frequency in concert programmes, with the possible exception of the great soprano solo 'Laudate Dominum'.  That is a pity, as it is a most attractive piece.

Here, the Choral Union used it as the main item in a Mozartian first half that began with the wonderful late Ave verum corpus, K618.  After the interval, the four soloists returned for Haydn's superb 'Nelson' Mass, which again highlighted the skills of soprano Catriona Hewitson.

The choir was also on excellent form, with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera a regular collaborator under Derek Clark.