The Resurrection

Simon McEnery wrote The Resurrection (with text by Jeremy Davies, then Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral) just over twenty years ago.

It was commissioned (by David and Anne Cooke) as a sequel of sorts to Stainers Crucifixion, and critics at the time noted that it was 'somewhere between an oratorio and a musical (Cathedral Music).Since then it has been performed in the UK and USA, and recorded by Salisbury Cathedral Choir, but this June will see only the second time it has been performed in Salisbury since then.Salisbury Chamber Chorus will be performing the piece twice over one weekend, on June 13 and 14, in St Thomass Church.

They will be joined by Nova Foresta Philharmonic, regular pianist John Cuthbert, and three of the original soloists, plus Salisbury tenor Edwin Lambert.

And the concerts will be conducted by the composer.They will also be Simon McEnerys last concerts as musical director of the choir he formed fifteen years ago.McEnery said: Im very excited to be doing this piece again.

Its probably my most popular and successful piece, and I love the way it marries a lot of my favourite things, from English Choral Music to 70s disco, juicy strings with the tiniest hint of Mantovani and house piano rhythms, plus the text is incredibly moving.