Saturday 30 June at 7:30 pm, St Mary’s Church, Church Street, Maldon CM9 5HW
Haydn Symphony No. 49 ‘La Passione’
Elgar Serenade for Strings
Boyce Symphony No. 4 in F
Grieg Holberg Suite
Mozart Symphony No. 29 in A
Find out more: Maldon Festival
The Bristol Ensemble performs a concert of classical favourites as part of the tenth annual Maldon Festival, which provides music lovers with a feast of orchestras, choirs, musicians and more.
Friday 15 – Sunday 17 December, 2017 at Snape maltings in Suffolk
A weekend of festive activities and concerts for both children and adults, including The Snowman and Paddington Bear’s First Concert with live orchestra and fun family activities around the site including workshops, storytelling sessions and a trail. Plus start the month with the Co-op Juniors’ Christmas Spectacular in the Land of Oz.
Friday 15th December, 2017 at 7.30pm at Snape Maltings Concert Hall
Whether it has its roots in frost-covered English woods and fields, or the splendour of baroque Venice, all the music in this concert is animated by a shared sense of wonder, mystery and joy. Vaughan Williams’ and Finzi’s seasonal favourites draw deeply on the English folk tradition, and make an enchanting foil for Vivaldi’s great (and rightly popular) shout of celebration. Together they add up to a luminous Christmas concert from Snape Maltings’ own chorus, under its charismatic director Ben Parry.
Programme
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols 11’
Finzi In terra pax (Christmas scene) 15’
Vivaldi Gloria 30’
Performers
Aldeburgh Voices
The Suffolk Ensemble
Ben Parry conductor
Saturday December 16th, 2017 at 7.00pm – Tewkesbury Abbey
A performance of Handel’s Messiah with Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum, accompanied by the Bristol Ensemble, conducted by Simon Bell with soloists Kirsty Hopkins (soprano), Tom Lilburn (counter-tenor), Julian Stocker (tenor) and Julian Empett (bass).
22nd December 2017 at 7.30pm, St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR
A feel-good festive evening of carols and Christmas music – come and sing all your festive favourites with members of City of Bristol Choir, accompanied by The Bristol Ensemble and led in entertaining style by David Ogden. Bring the family for a wonderful evening of singing.
Friday 26th January at 7.30pm, Colston Hall, Bristol
Bristol’s stand-out annual comedy celebration returns for a fourteenth edition at Colston Hall – a unique celebration of the best onscreen classic silent comedy, live music and guest appearances by living legends of British comedy.
The host for this year’s gala show is soon to be announced and the film programme is an incredible triple-bill of laugh-out-loud comedy classics all accompanied by world class live musical accompaniment.
Buster Keaton’s best loved and most innovative film Sherlock Jr (1924) joins Charlie Chaplin’s A Dog’s Life (1918) to headline the show with live music.
Sherlock Jr is accompanied by the world premiere of a new, semi-improvised score composed by Guenter A. Buchwald and performed by the renowned European Silent Screen Virtuosi and members of Bristol Ensemble. A Dog’s Life features Chaplin’s own composition for the film and will be performed by a 15-piece Bristol Ensemble conducted by maestro Guenter A. Buchwald.
Plus: Laurel & Hardy’s hilarious comedy short Angora Love (1929) and live performance from innovative, award-winning visual comedy performers The Kagools and with our exciting guest host this looks like being our finest and funniest Gala event to date!
£10.50 to £60.00 incl. booking fee
Gold Premium Ticket Package:
£60.00* (limited to 50)
Access to exclusive post-show VIP after show experience with complimentary drink
Gala merchandise souvenir
Commemorative VIP lanyard (for access to post-show drinks)
One premium ticket located in the stalls
Exclusive limited souvenir event poster (not for sale)
Souvenir mini-programme
*Including all booking fees
Monday 29th January 2018 at 7.30pm, St John’s Smith Square, London
Programme:
Harbison – Remembering Gatsby (Foxtrot for Orchestra)
Bernstein – Symphony No.1: Jeremiah
Copland – Old American Songs First Set
Barber – Symphony No.1 in One Movement
Part of St John’s Smith Square’s Americana ’18 programme.
John Harbison’s orchestral foxtrot begins with an impression of the faraway green light on the East Egg dock, Gatsby’s yearn for the American dream, that would be shattered by corruption and excess. A tune from twenties style party music sketched for his abandoned opera on Fitzgerald’s novel forms the main foxtrot, culminating in fleeting references to the telephone bell and car horns signifying Gatsby’s fate.
Leonard Bernstein, who famously said for great things you need a plan and not quite enough time, completed his first symphony to a tight competition deadline on 31st December 1942. The first movement represents Jeremiah’s pleas to the people of Jerusalem to root out corruption or disaster would befall them, the second the sacking of the city, and the finale settings of Jeremiah lamenting the desolation. Bernstein refused suggestions to add an optimistic ending, and over his career he worked on the theme of corruption and a crisis in faith, to a conclusion that for renewal dogma and orthodoxy must be stripped away in favour of a fundamental belief in common humanity, as expressed in his eclectic Mass of 1971.
Benjamin Britten asked Aaron Copland to arrange some American songs for him and Peter Pears for the 1950 Aldeburgh Festival. These were such a success Copland arranged another set and orchestrated them all in 1957. The original set includes ‘Simple Gifts’, that was used to great effect in Appalachian Spring, and a children’s song ‘I bought me a cat’ complete with sounds of the barnyard and its animals.
Samuel Barber’s Symphony in One Movement is more universally symphonic similar to Sibelius’ approach and less overtly American than Copland’s later style. Lyrical and dramatic, it was in 1937 the first American music to be performed at the Salzburg festival.
Sunday 18th February at Kings Place, London, 11.30am
Steven Devine director
Ciara Hendrick alto
James Way tenor
James Newby baritone
Professor Kishan Dholakia guest scientist
Seeing Life in a New Light
Marvel at our extraordinary universe and the music of Bach with our new Sunday morning series for inquiring and curious minds, with divine music, lively conversation and stimulating science.
For this morning’s session we’re joined by Professor Kishan Dholakia from the University of St Andrew’s enticingly-named Optical Manipulation Group. A world-expert in the physics of light, he’s fascinated by how the science of photonics can use imaging to help unravel the mysteries of the brain.
Alongside Professor Dholakia’s talk, we’ll be performing one of Bach’s most varied cantatas, BWV 83. Mixing joyful arias with funereal sounds, it’s a rollercoaster journey celebrating the glories of life as well as the sadness of death.
Our very own Sunday service is a place to bond with music lovers and revel in the wonders of science. There is no better way to start a Sunday morning.
In this concert we’ll be playing Bach’s cantata Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde (Joyful time in the new covenant).
In partnership with the Institute of Physics.
Thursday 15th March, St John’s, Waterloo at 6.00pm
Berlioz Cléopâtre
Schumann Symphony No.3 ‘Rhenish’
Jonathan Berman Conductor
This concert is free with no ticket required.
Schumann once wrote, admiringly, that Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique was ‘written with drops of blood’. Both composers were ardent Romantics, eager to transplant their very souls into music. Both were entranced by all Beethoven had achieved whilst eager to prove themselves and outstep his shadow. You sense this in these works.
One hears young Berlioz’s own longing for recognition in Cleopatra’s appeal to the Gods for exaltation. Meanwhile, Schumann embarks on his own pastoral symphony, all the while seeking to detour from the path first trodden by Beethoven.
Part of Free Rush Hour Concerts
Sunday 18th March at Kings Place, London, 11.30am
Steven Devine director
Ciara Hendrick alto
James Way tenor
James Newby baritone
Professor Kishan Dholakia guest scientist
Seeing Life in a New Light
Marvel at our extraordinary universe and the music of Bach with our new Sunday morning series for inquiring and curious minds, with divine music, lively conversation and stimulating science.
For this morning’s session we’re joined by Professor Kishan Dholakia from the University of St Andrew’s enticingly-named Optical Manipulation Group. A world-expert in the physics of light, he’s fascinated by how the science of photonics can use imaging to help unravel the mysteries of the brain.
Alongside Professor Dholakia’s talk, we’ll be performing one of Bach’s most varied cantatas, BWV 83. Mixing joyful arias with funereal sounds, it’s a rollercoaster journey celebrating the glories of life as well as the sadness of death.
Our very own Sunday service is a place to bond with music lovers and revel in the wonders of science. There is no better way to start a Sunday morning.
In this concert we’ll be playing Bach’s cantata Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde (Joyful time in the new covenant).
In partnership with the Institute of Physics.
Saturday 24th March, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 7.00pm
Symphony Hall, Symphony Hall, 8 Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA
Debussy (orch. Matthews) La cathédrale engloutie, 5′
Bach Organ solo, 10′
Messiaen O Sacrum Convivium, 5′
Messiaen Dieu parmi nous, 10′
Debussy Danse sacrée et danse profane, 9′
Debussy Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien, 35′
“What rules do you follow?”
…asked Claude Debussy’s music teacher. “Pleasure,” he replied. But pleasure can unlock whole worlds. 100 years after his death, join Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and the CBSO as they set out in search of the wonder, the power and the sheer beauty of music’s quietest revolutionary.
We’ll journey through sensual pleasures and sacred ecstasies, children’s games and bold new sounds, culminating in a concert performance of Debussy’s fairytale opera Pelléas et Mélisande. It’s an adventure that’ll involve our entire musical family, plus musical groups from across the whole city.
Sunday 15 April 2018, Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth at 3.00pm
Clara Schumann Piano Trio in G minor Op.17
Felix Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. Op.49
As part of our Notes for Women project celebrating the music of female composers, April’s recital features Clara Schumann’s lyrical and elegant Piano Trio, together with Felix Mendelssohn’s well-loved first piano trio, one of his best-known works. Tickets £10 on the door.
Tuesday 12 June at 6.30pm, Bath Abbey, Bath
Bristol Ensemble
Jon Monie narrator
Shean Bowers conductor
Jools Scott and Sue Curtis When The War Came
Bath Abbey will be holding an enchanting evening of choral music sung by a massed children’s choir of 300 pupils drawn from different primary schools in Bath.
The children are all part of the Abbey’s Schools’ Singing Programme, which brings the joy of singing to thousands of school children in Bath and surrounding areas.
When the War Came tells the story of six young people from a small village whose lives are changed forever when the Great War comes to them. Words: Sue Curtis; Music: Jools Scott.
Sunday 1 July 2018, at 7.00pm, St Nicholas, North Walsham, Norfolk
Agnes (a pocket oratorio) by Sarah Rodgers receives its world premiere at St Nicholas, North Walsham, performed by Julia Doyle, the choirs of St Nicholas and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Commissioned by the Orchestra in partnership with Orchestras Live, Agnes uses the letters of Agnes Paston in helping to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Paston family correspondence.
The concert, titled Reliving History, includes music by Purcell, Handel, Holborne, Warlock and Mozart.
Sunday 8 July at 7.30pm, Cheltenham Town Hall
Haydn Symphony No. 94, Surprise
Haydn Piano Concerto No. 11
Haydn Harmoniemesse
Sir András Schiff conductor/piano
Choir of the Age of Enlightenment
Charlotte Beament soprano
Helen Charlston alto
Nick Pritchard tenor
Dingle Yandell bass
Take a whirlwind tour of the music of Austrian master Joseph Haydn in the hands of one of the world’s greatest musicians, Sir András Schiff, as part of Cheltenham Music Festival.
This concert rounds off the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Visions, Illusions & Delusions season with a varied programme of music by Haydn, who as much as any other composer redefined what orchestral music came to be during the Enlightenment period.
Sunday 29 July at 5.30pm, Hovingham Hall, York
Haydn Symphony No. 26 Lamentatione
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 1
JC Bach Symphony in G minor
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5
Rachel Podger director/ violin
There is more to Mozart than meets the eye.
His repertoire is full of surprises and deceptions.
Mozart was the ultimate musical genius – and the ultimate game player. He tore up the rulebook, and if you hear his music twice, you never have quite the same experience.
Join the OAE to explore the hidden secrets of Mozart’s familiar scores, led by the Orchestra’s longstanding collaborator, violinist Rachel Podger. She plays two of Mozart’s great violin concertos, which are both unique in their own ways.
Also enjoy an exhilarating but rarely performed symphony by Johann Christian Bach. The son of Johann Sebastian Bach, JC Bach was a celebrity in London in the 1770s. This Symphony in G Minor is his dramatic, standout work, full of twists and turns and dark passions.
Friday 10th August at 7.00pm, Birmingham Town Hall
Don’t miss the NCCGB 20th Anniversary Concert, which will be an opportunity to hear the choirs of the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain sing a wide variety of works from classical to R&B. These will include pieces by Faure, Goodall and of course Bob Chilcott, President of NCCGB, each choir showing the range of music they have sung during the year.
The concert will end with the première of Everyday Wonders: the Girl from Aleppo, which was written by Cecilia McDowall to commemorate our anniversary year. Performed by current choir members and a group of alumni, Everyday Wonders follows the story of Nujeen Mustafa, who travelled as a child refugee from Syria to Germany, and celebrates her courage and perseverance.
Saturday, September 15, 2018 – Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 7:30pm, Peckham (London) Multi-Storey Car Park
are bringing a new opera programme to Peckham, beginning in 2018 with Viktor Ullmann’s The Emperor of Atlantis, an opera about the need for humans to respect death. The megalomaniac Emperor has declared a war that will only end when there are no survivors left. Death, an old tramp, is outraged that a mortal should try to steal his job and goes on strike. The war begins but panic sets in as no one can die. The Living Dead walk the earth. The Emperor’s power weakens. He submits to the greater power of Death, and dies. Originally written in the concentration camp at Terezin in 1943 as a satire of the Nazi regime, this project proposes to re-read the piece as a prophecy for our time, presenting it within the context of current political debates about nuclear warfare, the migration crisis, climate change and the value of life in relation to power, always with a flavour of satire and clowning. The sound world of the opera is cartoonish and accessible, its collage style mixes jazz with chamber music and cabaret.
Saturday 24th November, 7.30pm, St James’s Church, Piccadilly, London
Amici Chamber Choir, conductor Paul Jeanes
Rachmaninov – Bogoroditsye Dyevo
Bairstow – Let all mortal flesh keep silence
‘O Mysterium’ by Victoria
‘O Mysterium’ by Thompson
Gjeilo – Northern Lights; Serenity; Ubi Caritas
Randall Thompson – Alleluia
Dvořák – Mass in D
A richly rewarding evening of beguiling choral music sung with passion and commitment.
The Amici Chamber Choir was established in 1986 so that a group of experienced and enthusiastic amateur singers could enjoy performing music to a high standard. The choir celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016.
The choir draws its members from across north/west London and consists of about 33 singers who are required to have good sight singing ability. We perform regular concerts in Harrow and central London, with occasional trips to other parts of the UK. The repertoire covers both sacred and secular works, from Renaissance church music and madrigals to music of the present day.
Sunday December 9th at 3.00pm, Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth
Franz Schubert Quintet in C Major D. 956
Amy Beach Quartet for Strings Op. 89 [composer profile]
Bristol Ensemble’s popular series of Sunday afternoon tea-time chamber recitals continues with works for string ensemble.
Recognised as America’s leading woman composer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Amy Beach belonged to the Second New England School of composers. Her one-movement Quartet for Strings, completed in 1929, is a lean yet lyrical work of great originality, incorporating Alaskan Inuit melodies as thematic material.
Written just two months before the composer’s death, Schubert’s string quintet is regarded by many as his finest chamber work. The Adagio second movement is tranquilly sublime, and is so treasured that it has become one of the most requested pieces on Desert Island Discs.
Tickets £10 on the door.
Saturday 15th December, at 7.30pm, Clifton Cathedral, Bristol
Handel composed his most famous piece in 1741, continuing to work on it after its initial performance, to arrive at the version we know today in 1754. It tells the story of Jesus’s birth, life, death, resurrection and victory over sin and death, through impressive solo arias interspersed with compelling choruses.
Since the 1740s Messiah has been sung annually by many choirs and remains one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.
Thursday 20th December at 6.45pm, St Paul’s Cathedral, London
The British Red Cross is proud to host its Festive Concert in the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral in London to help raise vital funds for people in crisis across the UK.
There will be performances by the Kingdom Choir (of Royal Wedding fame), Nadine Benjamin and Toby Spence, and readings from British Red Cross celebrity supporter Joanna Lumley.
The concert will also feature the world premiere of a specially composed work by Sir Karl Jenkins. The evening promises to be a special one!
This wonderful celebration will bring people together, regardless of religion, to make connections over the holidays and get people into the festive spirit.
February 17, 2019, 3:00 pm at Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth
Fauré Piano Quartet in No.1 C minor, Op.15
Franck Violin Sonata in A major
There’s a Gallic feel to February’s concert, with music from across the Channel. César Franck’s romantic work is regarded by many as the finest violin sonata in all French music. Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Quartet was written at a time of emotional turmoil in the composer’s life, but is predominately positive and uplifting in mood. Tickets £10 on the door.
March 8, 2019, 7:30 pm at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1DZ
Programme to include excerpts from In a Time Lapse, Devenire and Elements
The Bristol Ensemble performs some of the most famous pieces composed by Ludovico Einaudi to the backdrop of beautiful images of nature. Scored for piano and strings, the ethereal works create a meditative atmosphere, creating waves of emotion to engulf the listener.
Tickets £25 (half price for students and under 18s)
Saturday 13 April, 7.30pm at St Swithin’s Church, Bath
Bath Minerva Choir
Bristol Ensemble
Conducted by Gavin Carr
Mozart Vesperae solennes de Confessore, KV 339
Mozart Serenata notturna, K239
Haydn Missa in Angustiis (‘Nelson’ Mass)
Bath Minerva Choir presents two beautiful works to mark this spring – the Haydn Missa in Angustiis – also known as the Nelson Mass – is widely known and is happily contrasted with one of Mozart’s loveliest pieces – the Vesperae Solennes de Confessore. A beautiful programme of music from the classical era performed by the Bath Minerva Choir and Bristol Ensemble under the direction of Gavin Carr.
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