The 2013 Festival will be held in Chichester from 18th - 21st July
Two important figures of the twentieth century provide the pillars for this year's Southern Cathedrals Festival: Benjamin Britten in his centenary year, and Francis Poulenc who died 50 years ago. The Saturday concert (which starts at the earlier time of 6pm) includes Poulenc's Organ Concerto and Britten's exuberant oratorio St Nicolas.
Britten and Poulenc were both artists in the broadest sense, and the Festival will include a look at some connected 20th century art works. David Owen Norris returns to Pallant House Gallery with David Wilson-Johnson for a concert including a song-cycle depicting artists such as Chagall, Picasso and Miro.
Our own Pallant Charitable Trust Composition Competition will reach its climax on Saturday with a concert final of the short-listed entries, with James MacMillan as judge. James MacMillan will also attend the Festival Eucharist for the premiere of his motet The Offered Christ which is this year's SCF commission.
The programme also includes plenty of repertoire from the 16th to 19th centuries, the highlight of which will be Scarlatti's 10-part Stabat Mater, sung by the girl choristers of Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals with the lay clerks of the three cathedrals.
Mark Wardell will give the SCF organ recital and will also be in residence playing keyboard at the Fringe Jazz Club.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Festival in Chichester in July.