Ely Cathedral (UK)

In common with all the great English cathedrals, Ely Cathedral cherishes a rich and distinctive tradition of church music. For more than a thousand years, music has stood at the heart of the Cathedral's life and worship, shaping its daily rhythm and lending beauty and splendour to its liturgy. Today, four choirs continue this living tradition, sustaining a musical heritage of remarkable depth and vitality. At its centre is the much-loved Choral Evensong, sung each evening during term time by the Cathedral Choir, while Sunday worship is likewise enriched by the choir's music.

The Cathedral Choir today is made up of six Lay Clerks — its professional adult singers — together with a Boys' Choir (aged 7–13) and a Girls' Choir (aged 7–16). Each of the choirs sings four services a week and performs a wide-ranging repertoire embracing everything from Gregorian chant to contemporary composition. The choir is also widely admired beyond the Cathedral, appearing regularly in concerts, recordings, and broadcast performances for radio and television. All of the young choristers are pupils at King's Ely, one of the oldest schools in Great Britain.

This performance in Bergen marks the final concert of the choir's six-day tour of Western Norway. For this concluding programme, the audience will hear the six Lay Clerks and the Boys' Choir, bringing the tour to close the distinctive sound, discipline, and expressive warmth of Ely's choral tradition.

The programme will include works by Parry, Rutter and Sir James MacMillan.

Director: Edmund Aldhouse

Organ: Jeremy Lloyd

Free entrace.