The Purcell Singers, one of London’s leading chamber choirs, are privileged to be celebrating Holy Week with Rachmaninoff’s 1915 All-Night Vigil. Incorporating melodies from traditional chants and Rachmaninoff’s expressive and expansive style, the All-Night Vigil is one of the composer’s best-loved works. It resonates deeply and globally with Christians, the spiritual and those searching for answers.

In fifteen movements, the choir invites the audience to experience joy and praise, hope and love, despair and grief, anger and loneliness, longing and wonder. 

Originally lasting from Saturday evening through to Sunday morning and consisting of three separate services: Vespers, Matins and Prime, the All-Night Vigil now usually comprises a single three-hour long service comprising a sequence of hymns, readings, chants and prayers.

The purpose of the Vigil is to show the beauty of the setting sun and to give the congregation a chance to consider the spiritual light of Christ, to anticipate the new light of the coming day, and reflect on the eternal light of the heavenly kingdom.