Saturday 13 June 2026

7.30pm

(ends 930pm approximately)

St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds

Walton  Belshazzar’s Feast

              Coronation Te Deum

Parry     Blest Pair of Sirens

              I was Glad

Roderick Williams   baritone

Southern Sinfonia

Bury Bach Choir

Bath Bach Choir

Benedict Collins Rice  conductor

Experience the Drama of Ancient Babylon

Join the combined choirs of Bury Bach Choir and Bath Bach Choir for an unforgettable evening as we present William Walton’s magnificent oratorio Belshazzar’s Feast, one of the most thrilling and dramatic works in the choral repertoire. This biblical epic tells the story of the Babylonian king’s downfall with overwhelming power and intensity, featuring some of the most exciting choral writing ever composed. From the haunting opening narration to the triumphant finale celebrating the liberation of the Jewish people, Walton’s masterpiece will transport you to ancient Babylon for an evening of musical storytelling at its absolute finest.

Belshazzar’s Feast demands everything a choir can give – thunderous fortissimos that shake the concert venue, delicate pianissimos that draw you in, and rhythmic complexity that will leave you breathless. Walton’s score brilliantly captures both the decadence of Babylonian revelry and the righteous anger of divine judgment. Featuring powerful solos - sung today by stellar talent Roderick Williams - massive choral forces, and orchestral writing that ranges from intimate chamber music to earth-shaking climaxes, this performance promises to demonstrate the full range and capability of our combined choirs.

To complete the programme, we’ll also perform Hubert Parry’s wonderful Blest Pair of Sirens and I was Glad, and William Walton’s Coronation Te Deum, a regal and celebratory piece for double choir and semi-choruses which he composed for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey.

Do book now for this rare opportunity to hear one of Britain’s greatest choral works performed live by a choir of over 140 singers and an orchestra of over 50 players – it’s a musical experience that will stay with you long after the final notes fade away.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

Tickets  £30 (reserved), £23 (unreserved) (half price for under-30s)

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