The Three Choirs Festival, held each year since the early eighteenth century, and rotating between the three great cathedral cities of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford, is one of the world’s oldest classical choral music festivals. This heritage has long established the festival as a firm fixture in the British music calendar and a must-visit for lovers of the great choral works from across Britain, Europe, America and Australasia.
The centre-piece within this week-long festival is the choral concert each evening in the cathedral accompanied by our resident syphony orchestra, with programmes that combine the established favourites of the British classical choral tradition with works drawn from a broader, more international musical canvas, and supported by daytime programmes of chamber music, opera, theatre, organ recitals, talks, exhibitions and other events.
2012 is the start of our 3 year formal residency with the Philharmonia Orchestra ensuring not only the Orchestra’s presence at Gloucester 2013 and Worcester 2014, but opening up a whole host of supporting activity which will reach beyond the concert platform. At its heart, the new Residency is a firm commitment from both the Festival and the Philharmonia to continue bringing world-class concert performances to each Festival. Prestigious artists with whom the Philharmonia has long-standing relationships with both in London and internationally will be making appearances as part of future Festival programmes. We’ll also be working together to develop the artistic programme ensuring that Three Choirs continues its position as one of the UK’s most distinctive and imaginative music Festivals.
Each festival provides an attached Festival Club, traditionally run by the Friends of the home festival, which provides a central social venue for audience and performers alike, as well as food and drink in a welcoming and hospitable atmosphere.
There is something for everyone at Three Choirs, so why not find out what all the excitement is about, and visit this unique annual event!
