Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man, A Mass for Peace by Candlelight

About this event

Enjoy a stunning performance of Karl Jenkins’ ground-breaking and inspiring Mass, written in reflection of the passing of ‘the most war-torn and destructive century in human history’ and performed in the evocative candlelit setting of St Mary Le Strand, James Gibbs’ baroque masterpiece and arguably the most beautiful of the Queen Anne Churches. This evening’s performance will be given by The L’Inviti Singers, accompanied by Alexander Pott (organ). Karl Jenkins is a contemporary Welsh composer whose breakthrough came with the crossover project Adiemus in the mid-1980s. In 2023 his music was played at the Coronation of King Charles III, and in June of that year, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace gained the unique status of having achieved “1000 Weeks” in the UK Classical chart. This year saw the work ranked fifth in the Classic FM Hall of Fame – the highest position for a living composer – and placed fifth in a list of Great British Classics. The performance begins at 6.30pm, and will last about 65 minutes, without interval, giving concert-goers time to have dinner after the performance.   Featuring The L’Inviti Singers with Alexander Pott (organ) Directed by David Guest   Programme The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace – Karl Jenkins   The L’Inviti Singers are one of the UK’s best-kept choral secrets. For many years this choir could only be heard at exclusive private events across the UK and further afield, but across this year the choir is for the first time undertaking a series of public concerts at St Mary le Strand. The choir is handpicked from singers from the country’s top chamber choirs including Tenebrae, The Sixteen and the Monteverdi Choir. Here’s a short video from an earlier concert at St Mary le Strand. The choir is accompanied by organist Alexander Pott. A former organ scholar of Christ Church, Oxford, and between 2017 and 2024 Assistant Organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, Alexander is currently researching for his PhD at Cambridge University. The performance is directed by David Guest, Director of the Christopher Wood Choral Foundation who are in residence at St Mary le Strand.   Buy your tickets for the Armed Man (Karl Jenkins) by candlelight here   Email [email protected] for further info   PS – If you would like restaurant suggestions, here are a few of our favourites. None are more than five minutes’ walk from the church: Franco Manca (pizza): 1-5 Catherine Street, WC2B 5JZ – book a table here Banana Tree (Thai): 34 Wellington Street, WC2E 7BD – book a table here Côte (French brasserie): 17-21 Tavistock Street, WC2E 7PA – book a table here Dishoom (Indian): 12 Upper St Martin’s Lane, WC2H 9FB – book a table here ..and for just a drink, here are some local pubs/bars (again, less than five minutes away, and all east of the church, so tend to be a bit quieter/more peaceful than those closer to Covent Garden): The Cheshire Cheese: 5 Little Essex Street, WC2R 3LD – www.cheshirecheese.pub The George: 213 Strand, WC2R 1AP – www.georgeinthestrand.com Daly’s Wine Bar: 210 Strand, WC2R 1AP – www.dalyswinebar.co.uk