2020/21 SEASON AUTUMN WINTER

THE INDEPENDENT | THE TIMES

www.armonico.org.uk Registered charity no. 1103159

AC Academy is generously supported by Phillips 66 & JET and endorsed by The Royal Albert Hall DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

OCTOBER 2020 DECEMBER 2020

01 Naked Byrd 01 A German Christmas Royal Pump Rooms, The Collegiate Church Leamington Spa of St Mary, 22 Naked Byrd 19 A German Christmas Malvern Theatres Malvern Theatres TBC Naked Byrd 23 Carols by Candlelight The Octagon, Yeovil The Collegiate Church 29 Vivaldi The Four Seasons of St Mary, Warwick Royal Pump Rooms, TBC Family Carols Leamington Spa Malvern Theatres 31 Vivaldi The Four Seasons TBC Family Carols Malvern Theatres The Octagon, Yeovil TBC Vivaldi The Four Seasons The Octagon, Yeovil

All performance running times are correct at the time of going to print, Armonico Consort reserves the right to adapt and alter programme details including the length of performances in accordance with changing Government guidelines. Should any changes be made, Armonico Consort will inform audiences immediately. Please note that in such circumstances, ticket prices will remain as advertised. We would like to thank the Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa for accommodating us for our first few Warwick performances since lockdown. Sadly our home venue, The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick is currently closed to the public.

BOOKING TICKETS

Tickets for our local performances can be purchased through the Royal Spa Centre & Town Hall Box Office. OPENING TIMES: Mon – Fri: 10am – 3pm | Bank Hols: Closed Tickets can be purchased by phone: 01926 334418 or online: www.armonico.org.uk WELCOME

A MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

We’re back! Thank you to the 100,000s who have engaged with us on our various social media channels over the past few months; we have been totally overwhelmed by the response to our performances, our work with community groups and particularly our new work with The Alzheimer’s Society. This new partnership has seen us retrain and repurpose our musicians to work with those living with dementia, ensuring that our performing artists remain relevant, and more importantly employed, throughout these unusual circumstances. We have also been especially moved by the messages from previous audience members who over recent times have no longer been able to attend our live performances and have now had the opportunity to engage with us again, virtually.

Many of the changes we have made will now stay in place, but most importantly – are here again!!

We asked you, our audience, what you would like to hear, when and how, and were staggered by the positive responses. We have heard you, and we have built these coming months based on precisely what you have told us you want. The most important thing to us is that you and our musicians remain safe, comfortable and relaxed and it is outlined in this brochure how my team will do this.

Finally, I want to say a massive thank you to my staff, musicians and to you, our sponsors, patrons and audience members, who have kept music alive both professionally and for our communities across the UK, enabling us to adapt and stay relevant in this fast changing world.

Onwards!!!

Christopher Monks Artistic Director | Armonico Consort

PROGRAMME INCLUDES: Ave Verum | William Byrd Salve Regina | Attributed to Hermann Contractus Miserere Mei | Gregorio Allegri The Spirit of Tallis | arr. Monks Never Seek to Tell Thy Love Jonathan Roberts Ave Generosa Hildegard von Bingen Libera Nos, Salva Nos John Sheppard O Virtus Sapientiae Hildegard von Bingen ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL Agnus Dei | Samuel Barber TOURING PROGRAMMES Versa Est (Requiem) Tomás Luis de Victoria Crucifixus | Antonio Lotti Ave Generosa NAKED BYRD, THE INDEPENDENT Hildegard von Bingen Hear My Prayer | Song for Athene | John Tavener Spiritus Sanctus Vivicans NAKED BYRD Hildegard von Bingen Plorate Filii Israel (Jephte) We asked our audiences which programme from Giacomo Carissimi the past ten years they would like to hear again post lock-down, and overwhelmingly top of the list came THU 01 OCT 20 | 7.30PM Naked Byrd! In this programme, Armonico Consort Royal Pump Rooms, presents an atmospheric of the music of Leamington Spa composers whose art saw their emotions laid bare, TICKETS: £19.50 as described by Artistic Director, Christopher Monks: 01926 334418 or www.armonico.org.uk “A wide range of pieces united by the tendency of their composers to wear their hearts on their sleeves and THU 22 OCT 20 | 3PM & 7PM their ability to fix a sense of raw emotion on paper.” Malvern Theatres Hear the world’s finest choral music, interwoven TICKETS: £17.92 with the timeless magical chants of Hildegard of 01684 892277 or Bingen, in a programme which captured the hearts www.malvern-theatres.co.uk of our audiences and became our most successful touring programme since the first performances PLEASE NOTE: This is a 1 hour in 2009. The recording has been played hundreds performance with no interval of times by BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM as well as on radio stations around the world and has Generously supported by received five star reviews in the national press. our Patron, John Cook A. VIVALDI THU 29 OCT 20 | 7.30PM Royal Pump Rooms, THE FOUR SEASONS Leamington Spa TICKETS: £24.50 SOLOIST | RACHEL PODGER 01926 334418 or HARPSICHORD | CHRISTOPHER MONKS www.armonico.org.uk ARMONICO CONSORT BAROQUE PLAYERS SAT 31 OCT 20 | 3PM & 7PM After Naked Byrd, the next most popular Malvern Theatres concert our audience said they wanted to hear TICKETS: £24.64 was Vivaldi’s masterpiece. Made up of four 01684 892277 or separate violin concertos based around poems www.malvern-theatres.co.uk from each of the seasons, their vibrant and virtuosic brilliance have made it one of the most PLEASE NOTE: This is a 1 hour exciting pieces of music to see and hear live. performance with no interval

Armonico Consort’s Generously supported by Baroque players will be Patrons, David & Sally Howell. joined by International This performance has been Baroque Violinist, generously sponsored by Rachel Podger, who Hilary Eldridge, member of will also guest-direct our Conductor’s Circle and in this performance. memory of Peggy Eldridge. A GERMAN CHRISTMAS (CADOGAN HALL, ) THE INDEPENDENT BRAND NEW PROGRAMME

A GERMAN CHRISTMAS PRAETORIUS | CHRISTMAS MASS CORELLI | CHRISTMAS CONCERTO, OP. 6 NO. 8

ARMONICO CONSORT DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS THE ENGLISH CORNETT & SACKBUT ENSEMBLE

Over the centuries, the Germans have got two things very right, their Christmas markets and their Christmas music, and Michael Praetorius’ offering to this legacy with his Christmas Mass is simply magnificent. Taking inspiration from the Venetian school, Praetorius surrounds the listener with a number of choral and instrumental groups, using virtuosic combinations of colour, vitality and excitement. The composer then ends the piece with the ‘almost’ surround sound, awe inspiring, 22 part In Dulce Jubilo.

The Corelli Concerto Grosso for two solo violins, Op. 6 No. 2 will open the concert. Perhaps the most mesmerising of Corelli’s Concerti Grossi, it is known as the ‘Christmas Concerto from 1690’ and is engraved ‘Fatto per la notte di Natale’ which translates as ‘made for the night of Christmas’. Packed so richly with Baroque indulgence, melodies and incredible, relentless and plainly gorgeous suspensions, it is one of the finest examples of in this form. ‘It is TUE 01 DEC 20 | 7.30PM Italian!?!’ we hear you shout...The logic behind The Collegiate Church including this work in our German Christmas of St Mary, Warwick programme is this is that, whilst German TICKETS: £23.50 musical styles dominated the composers in 01926 334418 or Europe across the centuries, Praetorius so www.armonico.org.uk clearly demonstrates that the influence on his music was simply Italian, so what better excuse SAT 19 DEC 20 | 7.30PM to include this fabulous work by Corelli. Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £26.32 01684 892277 or www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

PLEASE NOTE: This is a 1 hour performance with no interval

Generously supported by Tim Coghlan and Braunston Marina CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

ARMONICO CONSORT DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS

Our traditional Carols by Candlelight will once again take place in the enchanting setting of the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick. Featuring WED 23 DEC 20 | 7.30PM our incredible AC Academy Scholars, Christmas The Collegiate Church music from centuries both old and new will of St Mary, Warwick merge to create a sublime festive evening. TICKETS: £24.50 01926 334418 or www.armonico.org.uk

PLEASE NOTE: This is a 1 hour performance with no interval

ARMONICO CONSORT FAMILY CAROLS Generously supported by Malvern Theatres & The Octagon, Yeovil David Phillips & Phillips and Details to be announced Becker Accountants Ltd. OUR PLANS TO KEEP OUR AUDIENCES SAFE, RELAXED & COMFORTABLE

As we embark on a new journey and have also recognised that flexibility in prepare to reintroduce our live concert bookings is of the utmost importance series, we have put in place measures and have therefore reviewed our ticket to ensure our ongoing commitment booking policies to offer the option to to the safety, comfort and wellbeing transfer or return tickets up to the day of our audiences, volunteers and before the performance in order to performers following the first class dissipate any concerns and uncertainties standards of the music itself. surrounding changes of circumstances with immediate refunds if required. We will create an environment for our audiences to relax, enjoy and appreciate We are blessed with fantastic, spacious live music and our number one priority venues which allow us to practice is for our audiences to continue to social distancing with our audience enjoy such experiences safely. We and performers comfortably whilst plan to gradually reintroduce our continuing to enjoy the intimate live concerts with a series of shorter atmosphere of a live performance. monthly programmes with no interval These venues also understand the before slowly reintroducing our longer importance on safety for all involved programmes. The audience capacity for and have introduced rigorous cleaning these performances will be limited and procedures to further ensure guests on booking all audience members will are comfortable in their surroundings. be asked the size of their party so that they can be seated accordingly and can We look forward to welcoming enjoy the performance together. We you back to our concerts soon. LATER THIS SEASON JAN - FEB 2021

PURCELL | DIDO & AENEAS PERGOLESI | STABAT MATER LATER THIS SEASON MAR - APR 2021

ST MATTHEW PASSION TOUR WITH IAN BOSTRIDGE Naked Byrd, The Independent Supersize Polyphony, The Times Unlocking Musical Memories Music Releasing Memories for Those Living with Dementia

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest project, Unlocking Baroque Memories, a series of live music therapy sessions, tailor-made for people living with dementia and brought to you by our specialist musicians, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society.

Singing improves our sense of happiness and wellbeing and has been proven to be beneficial in helping people living with dementia to unlock their memories and re-establish cognitive pathways. Armonico Consort has developed a unique new project to provide high quality therapeutic music sessions, particularly focussing on our wide range of repertoire.

These will be hour long interactive singing sessions, led by our musicians, which will be available to those living with dementia and their carers. These sessions will initially be delivered virtually to groups of individuals in their own homes or those in residential homes.

For further information please contact us by emailing [email protected] or call 01926 800109 ext 7 www.armonico.org.uk Registered charity no. 1103159

AC Academy is generously supported by Phillips 66 and JET and endorsed by The Royal Albert Hall

ARMONICO NEW RECORDING RECORDINGS WINTER 2020 Armonico Consort and Baroque Players have HANDELIAN collaborated with some of the finest musicians to produce world-class recordings, which have PYROTECHNICS gained widespread critical acclaim for their Preorder your CD online innovative programmes and exceptional quality. using this link: https://forms. Our CDs are available to purchase at all major retailers gle/i7Phadjw9PsoPJMX6 or or by contacting: [email protected] contact Jen Cuthbertson on: or 01926 800109 ext 4. Also available to download [email protected] from iTunes, Amazon, etc.

BEOWULF DIDO & AENEAS SUPERSIZE J. S. BACH, POLYPHONY SOLO CANTATAS

GREENSLEEVES ON CHRISTMAS LET THE BRIGHT NAKED BYRD NIGHT SERAPHIM

NAKED BYRD 2 REQUIEM THE FAIRY QUEEN DIXIT DOMINUS We are especially grateful to the following Benefactors who have given most generously to support our work:

CORPORATE Mr & Mrs D J Pam O’Brien Mrs Sheila Cole SPONSORS Couchman Mr D R Patterson Mr David Kershaw Phillips66 Limited Mrs Dawn Curtis Mr Russell Payne CBE JP JET Mrs Gemma Davies Ms Benedetta Polk Mr Nigel May Phillips and Becker Mr Anthony E Davies Barbara & Christopher Capt. Dermot Rhodes Accountancy Services Mrs Veronica Eden Purser Dr Paul Thandi CBE POWERbreathe Mrs Hilary Eldridge Professor Alan DL & Mrs Nicki Thandi International Ltd Mr & Mrs Faulds Richens Roger Wiglesworth Rayburn Tours Mr Tony Fitzpatrick & Dr and Mrs C P Braunston Marina Mrs Helen Fitzpatrick Rourke CONDUCTOR’S Flint & Thompson Mrs D Fowler Mr Jim Rowley CIRCLE Mr Hugh Furber Mr David Sarginson Mr and Mrs H S Brar PATRONS Pam & Roger Gadsby Dr Derek Smith Mrs Hilary Eldridge Mrs Juliet Amery Mr Malcolm Garner Katie Sylvester Mr Roger Medwell Mrs C Beecham Miss C Green Mrs Sidney Syson MBE, DL & Mrs Patricia Mrs Pauline M Brace Mr Malcolm Harbour Mr I M Taylor Medwell Joseph Bradshaw CBE & Mrs Penny Mr & Mrs C J Thorne Mr John Osborn Helen Brittain Harbour Mr & Mrs J & M Mr David Phillips MBE Mr David Burbidge Dr Barbara A Harland Thorne & Mrs Robina Phillips CBE Mrs Maureen Harris Mrs Patricia Tomlinson Mr Baljit & Mrs Jinny Mr Michael Burrows Rev Wendy Heaney Mrs Tyrell Shergill Group Captain Peter Monica Heath Mrs J Upward Butcher OBE Dr J Henderson Dr Louise Warburton PRESIDENT’S Nick and Katie David & Sally Howells Mrs J Ward CIRCLE Chester Mr J S W Jeffery Peter & Pat Wartnaby Mr John Boyden Mrs S Carr-Wu Mr Andrew Lawton Mr & Mrs J Wynn- Sir Martin Dunne Miss A M Cessford Mrs S J Liggins Evans KCVO Nick & Katie Chester Miss Jennifer Lorch Mrs Margaret Eardley Mr Tim Coghlan Miss Ursula Lowe EDUCATION Sir John & Lady Julia His Honour Richard Mr Robert PATRONS Egan Cole DL Macpherson & BENEFACTORS Mr Jamie & Mrs Alison Mrs A Cook Mr & Mrs Meehan Mrs Evelyn Berry Justham Mr J Cook Dr F C Millard Mr Ben Burbidge Gerry & Jill Slora Mrs J Cooke Mrs H Mills & Mrs Emma Burbidge Mr M J Cooke Dr A Nicholls Roger Cadbury CBE CONTACT US

ARMONICO CONSORT LTD facebook.com/ArmonicoConsort 2 New Street, Warwick CV34 4RX @ArmonicoConsort @ArmonicoConsort 01926 800 109 youtube.com/user/ArmonicoConsort [email protected] www.armonico.org.uk

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