John Tavener: Ultimos Ritos

This massive work for orchestra and four choirs was commissioned by Mario di Bonaventura for the Hopkins Centre, Dartmouth College, Hanover, USA. It was first performed by the BBC singers and the Dutch Radio Orchestra, conducted by John Poole, as part of the Holland Festival 1974. This performance was recorded by the BBC an subsequently broadcast on radio and television. Ideally, Ultimos Ritos should be performed in a cathedral or large church with gallery space.