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Saturday, 17 June 2006
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Britten
The main work in the concert will be Britten’s dramatic cantata Saint Nicolas, with tenor soloist Lynton Atkinson in the title role. St Nicolas (more usually spelt Nicholas) was a 4th century Bishop of Myra (now in Turkey). He is patron saint of children, seafarers, prisoners and travellers. Although now familiar to all as Santa Claus, his life story has no Christmas associations and a summer performance of Britten’s fine work is perfectly appropriate. In the cantata the saint speaks to us across the 1600 years since his time, and - with the help of the choir - relates the story of his life and faith. The libretto by Eric Crozier draws on some of the many legends that surround the saint. The work is colourfully scored for tenor soloist, mixed chorus, female semi-chorus, strings, piano duet, organ and percussion. The audience join in the singing of two well-known hymns - All people that on earth do dwell and God moves in a mysterious way - intended by Britten to mirror Bach’s use of chorales in the Passion settings. Purcell
Purcell’s Chaconne (or Chacony) in G Minor for strings, with its three upper parts weaving over a repeated bass “ground”, is encrusted with crunchy dissonances. The wonderful verse anthem O sing unto the Lord - full of dancing melodies and shining harmonies - shows Purcell at his most Italianate and has some truly magical moments. The work will be sung by the choir with string accompaniment.
Lynton Atkinson
New London Ensemble An ensemble of professional musicians drawn from the New London Sinfonia |
23 June 2007
Faure Requiem; and a new Making Music commission by David Bedford The Soft Stars that Shine at Night, Turner Sims Concert Hall
28 April 2007
Elgar The Dream of Gerontius, Southampton Guildhall
16 December 2006
Concert of Christmas Music, Turner Sims Concert Hall
25 November 2006
Beethoven Missa Solemnis with the Basingstoke Choral Society, The Anvil, Basingstoke
18 March 2006
Bach B Minor Mass, Winchester Cathedral
17 December 2005
Christmas Concert, Turner Sims Concert Hall
03 December 2005
American Programme, Mayor's Charity Concert, Southampton Guildhall
26 June 2005
Benjamin Britten War Requiem, Portsmouth Guildhall
Portsmouth Guildhall
12 March 2005
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 1;
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies The Kestrel Road;
Karl Jenkins The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace (Choral Suite);
Brahms - Academic Festival Overture, Southampton Guildhall
18 December 2004
Christmas Concert, Turner Sims Concert Hall
26 November 2004
Brahms Song of Destiny,
Tippet Negro Spirituals from A Child of our Time
& Beethoven Coriolan Overture, Prisoners' Chorus from Fidelio,
Final movement from Symphony No. 9, the Choral Symphony, Southampton Guildhall
08 May 2004
Britten Spring Symphony
& Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem, Southampton Guildhall
13 December 2003
Christmas Carol Concert, Turner Sims Concert Hall, University of Southampton
28 November 2003
Rossini Stabat Mater & Verdi Four Sacred Pieces, Southampton Guildhall
28 June 2003
Coronation Jubilee Gala, The Anvil, Basingstoke
22 March 2003
Monteverdi Vespers, Winchester Cathedral
20 December 2002
Beethoven Symphony No. 9 & Haydn Nelson Mass, Southampton Guildhall
01 December 2001
Bach Christmas Oratorio, Southampton Guildhall
07 July 2001
Rutter, Parry, Fauré & smaller pieces, Southampton Guildhall
