The famous Winchester Cathedral Choir comes in spring 2011 in Prague and Brno

The internationally renowned Cathedral Choir of Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks from Winchester Cathedral in England will be performing two concerts in the Czech Republic this April. On April 2, in Brno the choir will perform music specially chosen for the Lenten season, while in Prague, on April 4, a concert featuring music for Royal Occasions and Great Cathedrals will be presented.

The Cathedral Choir of Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks represents a living tradition of singing that goes back over a thousand years in Winchester, drawing on England’s rich history of sacred music. The choir sings eight church services a week in school term time and is widely recognized as one of England’s foremost cathedral choirs. They have also performed in Germany, France, Italy and the US in recent years. The boy choristers are all educated at the Pilgrims’ School in Winchester Cathedral Close. Their concerts have been broadcast live on BBC television and they have made numerous recordings. The Lay Clerks are the professional singers who provide the Alto, Tenor and Bass parts.

"The Winchester Cathedral Choristers has a rich musical history and we are pleased to be performing these two special concerts in the Czech Republic," said Andrew Lumsden, Director of Music. "We hope our guests will be uplifted listening to these talented singers in two of Central Europe’s most beautiful churches."

This is the first time the choir will be performing in the Czech Republic. The concert in Prague will be held in St Vitus Cathedral and will offer music from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and works by Henry Purcell and John Blow, both of whom were organists of Westminster Abbey. The programme also includes works sung at Coronation services throughout the centuries. The Brno concert, held in the Basilica of Brno Starobrnensky Klaster will feature Johann Sebastian Bach, William Bryd and Henry Purcell.

To purchase tickets for the Prague concert please contact: Tereza Rychnovská, Prague Castle Cultural Department, 602 505 180, e-mail: Tereza.rychnovska@hrad.cz. Tickets for Prague are also available on Ticketpro.cz, Ticketstream.cz and Bohemiaticket.cz.

To purchase tickets for the Brno concert please contact: Hana Bajáková, Filharmonie Brno, +420 539 092 811, hana.bajakova@filharmonie-brno.cz.