A Choral Celebration of Queen Mary II

Join us for a historic commemoration of the life of Queen Mary II, under the direction of British conductor and composer, Ralph Allwood, and Organist and Director of Music at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, William Vann.

About the event

The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir and the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists combine forces in an historic commemoration of the life of Queen Mary II.

This concert, part of the 2024 Chelsea History Festival, is a return visit to Chelsea following a critically acclaimed first joint concert earlier this year in Greenwich. Instrumental in the founding of the Old Royal Naval College in 1692, Queen Mary was on the throne when the Royal Hospital opened its doors to its Chelsea Pensioners that same year.

The choirs perform a captivating selection of music written by John Blow and Henry Purcell for Queen Mary’s coronation, birthday and funeral; we also hear George Frideric Handel’s ‘Utrecht Te Deum’, written for her successor to the English throne, Queen Anne.

The Lord God is a sun and a shield – John Blow (1649-1708) from the Coronation of William III and Mary II, 1689

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin (alto solo; from ‘Te Deum Laudamus in D’) – Henry Purcell (1659-1695) from the Saint Cecilia’s Day celebration, 1694

Come, ye sons of art – Henry Purcell Birthday Ode for Queen Mary, 1694

March, Canzona, Man that is born of a Woman & Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts – Henry Purcell Music from the funeral of Queen Mary II, 1695

Te Deum Laudamus (‘Utrecht Te Deum’) – George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Composed for the Peace of Utrecht, 1713

Tickets include an interval drink in the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s Great Hall.