On Saturday 20 June at 7:30pm, the Choir of Buckfast Abbey will present Venetian Splendour, a vibrant programme celebrating the golden age of sacred music in Venice. Joined by the period-instrument ensemble ‘In Echo’, the choir will perform magnificent works by Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi, Giovanni Croce and their contemporaries, recreating the rich and sonorous sound world of St Mark’s Basilica.
The concert explores the splendour of the Venetian polychoral tradition, in which singers and instrumentalists were placed in different galleries to create striking musical dialogues and resplendent sonorities. Performed in the spacious setting of Buckfast Abbey, this promises to be an atmospheric and uplifting evening of music from one of the most remarkable periods in European sacred music.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.buckfast.org.uk/events/venetian-splendour/
Press Enquiries:
Carol Davies, Media and Marketing Manager, Buckfast Abbey
Tel: 01364 645546
cdavies@buckfast.org.uk
Buckfast Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Devon with a rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
About Buckfast Abbey:
Located at the centre of a picturesque valley on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, Buckfast Abbey is home to a community of Roman Catholic Benedictine Monks, who live their lives of prayer, work and study according to the ancient rule of St Benedict.
Buckfast Abbey is the only English Benedictine monastery to be re-founded upon its original pre-reformation site. The original Abbey was founded in 1018 AD, by King Cnut. After the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII in 1538, the Abbey Church fell into ruin. It was rebuilt stone by stone upon its medieval foundations by a group of French and German monks.
Today, the site is a flourishing complex of buildings which the monks have continually developed to aid them in realising their vision for Buckfast – to be a national centre of witness to God, and the Roman Catholic faith.
The Buckfast Abbey community places a great value upon hospitality and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The site also includes beautiful gardens, a restaurant, multiple retail outlets, a conference centre, and a broad range of guest accommodation.
Fuller site detail:
Buckfast Abbey is the only English Benedictine monastery to be re-founded upon its original pre-reformation site.
After the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII in 1538, the Abbey Church fell into ruin. It was rebuilt stone by stone upon its medieval foundations by a group of French and German monks.
The Abbey Church is a haven of peace and tranquillity. It features a dramatic Lantern ceiling, various art treasures and the striking Blessed Sacrament Chapel depicting Christ in coloured glass, designed and manufactured by a Buckfast monk in the 1960’s.
The Abbey Church is a place of worship and visitors are welcome to participate in the daily celebration of Mass, sung by the Monastic community to ancient Gregorian chants. The Community is joined on Sundays by the Abbey Choir – the only professional Roman Catholic Choir in the South West, which sings the 11:00 Solemn Mass, and 15:00 Vespers and Benediction. Some services are also live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, for those who are not able to be present.
As well as being home to the community of monks, Buckfast Abbey is a popular tourist attraction in the South West. Visitors may enjoy the calm atmosphere of our gardens; the stunning architecture and artwork of our Abbey Church; visit the Monastic Way exhibition; enjoy recitals of choral and organ music by internationally renowned choirs and organists; as well as the delicious lunches and cream teas offered in our Grange Restaurant.
Our Gift Shop offers a range of items produced by Buckfast Abbey as well as other monasteries. You can also find a wide selection of plants found around the grounds and gardens available to take home in the Gift Shop.
Visitors also have the option of staying in our attractive and comfortable on-site Hotel – Northgate House, or in one of our other self-catering accommodation facilities.
Our recently refurbished Schiller Hall (part of St Cuthbert’s Conference Centre) is an incredible space to participate in events and meetings.
Buckfast Abbey is also known for its fortified tonic wine, which is still made in the Abbey’s grounds, and based on a traditional French recipe. It has now added Buckfast Mead made from honey from our bees to its range.