Cantando Choir presents Baroque to Blessed Light, a powerful and uplifting programme of choral music.

Audiences are invited to experience an inspiring evening of choral music as Cantando Choir presents Baroque to Blessed Light — a powerful and uplifting programme that traces a journey from grandeur and celebration to serenity and eternal light.

One of the most beloved works in the choral repertoire, A. Vivaldi’s Gloria is a dazzling showcase of energy, colour, and joy. From its triumphant opening to its moments of lyrical beauty, the work forms the vibrant centrepiece of a programme designed to uplift and inspire.

The concert opens with the iconic Zadok the Priest by G. F. Handel, setting a tone of grandeur and celebration. The programme then journeys through a rich tapestry of choral masterpieces, including movements from Stabat Mater by G. B. Pergolesi and the flowing serenity of Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by J. S. Bach.

A sense of warmth and reflection emerges in the second half with Cantique de Jean Racine and movements from the Requiem by G. Fauré, alongside the exquisite Ave Verum Corpus by W. A. Mozart. The concert concludes with Fauré’s In Paradisum, leaving audiences with a feeling of peace and transcendence.

“This programme is about light,” says Kolitha Jayatunge, Music Director of Cantando Choir. “It begins in brilliance and celebration, then gently guides us toward a sense of peace and hope. It’s music that speaks to something universal.”

With its blend of grandeur, intimacy, and radiant beauty, Baroque to Blessed Light promises an unforgettable evening of music that will stir the soul and uplift the spirit.

Date: Saturday 9th May 2026

Time: 7pm

Venue: Waikato Cathedral Church of St Peter, 51 Victoria Street, Hamilton

Tickets: Adult $35, Concession $30, Student $20, Child (aged 12 and under) Free. Available from info@cantando.org.nz or choir members

Website: www.cantando.org.nz for more information and tickets