Registered Charity Number 1030540
The Choir continues to learn a wide range of music under the direction of its musical director and conductor Jonathan Watts.
The 2011 Christmas concert featured the following two works accompanied by a Baroque Band:
The Christmas concert brought together two of the most iconic pieces from the repertoire of the High Baroque period. To this was been added Bach’s solo Cantata 51 which, although not written specifically for any part of the Christmas season, fitted in so well with its joyful text and festive instrumentation of solo trumpet and soprano.
In 2010 we performed Charpentier’s Messe du Minuit and Handel’s Dixit Dominus, the latter a huge challenge for a large, un-auditioned chorus. However, the performance came alive and received much acclaim due to the accompaniment of a period instrument ensemble and it is to the same that we returned for Christmas 2011. The clarity, agility and sonority of the period instruments never overwhelmed but encouraged and enhanced the clarity of the counterpoint particularly in the Christmas Oratorio. Performing everything at a pitch of A=415, a semitone lower than modern concert pitch, also helped the sometimes eye watering high tessitura of the soprano and tenor lines.
Soloists:
Trumpet: Crispian Steele-Perkins
Counter Tenor:Sebastian Field
Soprano: Anna Sandström
Tenor: Alexei Winter
Bass: Paul Sheehan
Accompanied by a Baroque Band
Forthcoming concerts in the Great Hall, Dartington:
Sunday 1 April 2012 Brahms Requiem
Sunday 10 June 2012 An evening of French Music
Tickets: Dartington Box Office 01803 847070 www.dartington.org/arts