Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla, The

The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2023, which was watched by millions around the world, was not just a state event of immense historical significance. It was also a major musical landmark. Twelve contemporary composers were commissioned to write new work: six new choral pieces were among twenty performed during the two-hour service, while there were also four original instrumental commissions and one vocal commission among the twenty-one pieces performed before the ceremony. Two orchestras and five choirs took part, together with world-rewnowned soloists and a Greek Orthodox ensemble. Combined with plainsong, gospel music, and the Welsh, Gaelic, and Irish languages, the Coronation was a solemn and majestic occasion of unprecedented musical richness.