Guildford Choral & Symphony Orchestra to Present MESSA DI GLORIA at GLive

Guildford Choral and Guildford Symphony Orchestra will reunite at GLive on Saturday 16th May 2026 at 7:30pm. Conducted by maestros Jonathan Willcocks and Darrell Davison, the concert brings together three joyful masterpieces: Puccini's 'Messa di Gloria', Haydn's 'Te Deum Laudamus', and Dvořák's 'Symphony No. 8', promising a night of inspiring performances, rich harmonies, and orchestral brilliance - a wonderful celebration of live music. Joining them are two highly acclaimed young soloists - Sang Eup Son (Tenor) and Trevor Eliot Bowes (Baritone).

The evening opens in dazzling style with Franz Joseph Haydn's 'Te Deum Laudamus', a magnificent choral celebration written for chorus and orchestra in circa 1799, at the height of Haydn's creative powers. Te Deum was commissioned by Empress Marie Therese (wife of Franz I of Austria), a huge admirer of Haydn's work. Expect plenty of jubilant, bright, majestic harmonies in a work overflowing with joy and vitality. The piece is written for an unusually large orchestra for the time with a panoply of brass deployed to underline its joyous, exultant message.

Antonín Dvořák's 'Symphony No.8' is one of the most beloved of his works. It is a rhapsodic celebration of the Prague countryside and the Bohemian folk spirit that shaped the composer's musical voice. The symphony spills over with warmth, zest, and lyrical charm, full of optimism and heartfelt beauty that capture the natural world. From the soaring cello opening, Dvořák's 8th Symphony packs almost as many memorable tunes into one piece as other composers manage in a lifetime.

To conclude the evening, the choir and orchestra unite for Giacomo Puccini's 'Messa di Gloria'. Composed in 1880 as a graduation piece when Puccini was just 21 years-old, this radiant and consistently uplifting work showcases his early brilliance. Influenced by Verdi's 'Requiem', the 'Messa di Gloria' combines a lush orchestral palette with Puccini's innate flair for drama and melody, shimmering with lyrical beauty and operatic intensity.

Performers

Guildford Choral is one of England's longest established choirs, renowned for its high musical standards and adventurous repertoire. With over 140 auditioned members, the choir is dynamic, ambitious, and ever creative. Guildford Symphony Orchestra, Surrey's most established symphony orchestra, has been performing for over a century. Its members share a passion for exploring a wide range of orchestral music.

Joining them will be award-winning South Korean rising star Sang Eup Son (Tenor). Son is a graduate of the Korea National University of Arts and has pursued further studies in opera at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Based in the UK Son's credits include: Alfredo in 'La Traviata', Almaviva in 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia', Alfred in 'Die Fledermaus', Henry Crawford in 'Mansfield Park', and Rodolfo in 'La Bohème'. He has appeared in productions in Seoul and London. Son is an alumnus of the Georg Solti Accademia and has won prizes at the prestigious Soori and JoongAng music competitions.

Canadian Bass, Trevor Eliot Bowes (Baritone) will be joining Son. Bowes studied at the University of Toronto and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before being selected as one of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium Young Artists. Based in the UK, he has appeared with English National Opera, The Royal Opera House, English Touring Opera, Opera North, Opera Holland Park, Glyndebourne, Nevill Holt Festival, Grange Park Opera, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and London Handel Festival. International appearances have included the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, and Valletta Baroque Festival. Recent highlights include Don Basilio, 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia' at Longborough Festival Opera, Bartolo in 'Le Nozze di Figaro' with The Mozartists, Colline, 'La Bohème' and Seneca in 'L'Incoronazione di Poppea' with English Touring Opera.

Conductors

Darrell Davison: Musical Director of the Guildford Symphony Orchestra, will conduct Dvořák's Symphony No. 8. Davison has an award-winning distinguished career shaped by work with leading orchestras across the UK and abroad. He is a conductor and Musical Director of The Little Symphony of London, The New Philharmonic Orchestra and also presents the successful Arthur Davison Family Concerts at the Fairfield, Croydon. As a composer, his music has been performed by The Philharmonia, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, and he has written and orchestrated film scores for The London Symphony Orchestra. Davison has worked with many different orchestras, both professional and amateur. This has included recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC, as well as concerts and recordings in Europe and Asia. Awards include the Sir John Barbirolli Conducting Competition and the inaugural Leeds Conducting Competition.

Jonathan Willcocks: Musical Director of Guildford Choral, The Chichester Singers and professional chamber orchestra Southern Pro Musica. Willcocks has conducted choirs and orchestras all over the world. Engagements have taken him to the finest concert halls including Carnegie Hall in New York, Perth Concert Hall, Australia, the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, London. His music has been played at the BBC Proms, and his choral repertoire has also been recorded by many well-known choirs such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the London Bach Choir. Jonathan's compositions have also been published by Oxford University Press, Lorenz (USA) and Prime Music/MorningStar. He has been recognised by nomination for the Academy of Composers and Songwriters' prestigious British Composer Awards and has held posts in musical education, most recently at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Willcocks was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to music.

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