CONCERTS 2018/19 Welcome to our 2018/19 season
A very warm welcome to The Bach Choir’s 143rd season of concerts, which begins with two performances marking the centenary of the end of WWI. First is Britten’s War Requiem on 3 October – a very special work for The Bach Choir, which sang on the original recording with Britten conducting – still the seminal recording today. In the spirit of unity that characterised the premiere in 1962, we are performing with boys from the Staats- und Domchor Berlin, and the German baritone Benjamin Appl. A month later, on 8 November, we present Remembrance and Freedom, a concert of music and readings in aid of the Royal British Legion. Looking further ahead we have carols and Christmas music, our annual Bach St Matthew Passion and Beethoven’s mighty Missa Solemnis – music which is dear to my heart and which I hope very much will appeal to you.
David Hill Musical Director of The Bach Choir
All concerts promoted by The Bach Choir are listed with this logo. promoted
War Requiem War Requiem promoted
Wed 3 Oct 2018, 7.30pm Westminster Cathedral
Andrew Staples: War Requiem Britten War Requiem
The Bach Choir David Hill conductor Philharmonia Orchestra Sally Matthews soprano Staats- und Domchor Berlin Andrew Staples tenor Choristers of Westminster Benjamin Appl baritone Cathedral Philip Scriven organ
War and the pity of war Britten’s War Requiem with reflections on contemporary conflict and new responses to Wilfred Owen’s poetry read by celebrity actors and journalists.
Composed in 1961 for the consecration of the ood newly-rebuilt Coventry Cathedral, the War Requiem combines the Latin requiem mass with texts by the First World War poet Wilfred Owen, who was killed in action aged just 25.
Tickets £12–£50 Giselle Allen © Glenn Norw
Bookings > Back cover
Raymond Gubbay presents The Planets
Sun 7 Oct 2018, 3pm Remembrance and Freedom Royal Albert Hall
Verdi The Force of Destiny Overture
om choir image © Dongning Lv/Shanghai Oriental Art Center © Dongning Lv/Shanghai om choir image Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2
Bott Holst The Planets
The Bach Choir Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Damian Iorio conductor Joseph Moog piano
Holst’s evocative and powerful planetary masterwork crowns an evening of sublime music.
Tickets £24–£58.75 Book 020 7589 8212 | royalalberthall.com Giselle Allen: Remembrance and Freedom Top choir image & David Hill © Beau Image & Photography Hill © Beau Image & David choir image Top Remembrance promoted and Freedom
Thu 8 Nov 2018, 7.30pm Royal Festival Hall
Elgar The Spirit of England Elgar, arr David Hill Requiem Aeternam (Enigma Variations/Nimrod) Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region Barber Agnus Dei Parry Blest Pair of Sirens Royal British Legion Christmas Celebration The Bach Choir Philharmonia Orchestra David Hill conductor Giselle Allen soprano Celebrity speakers
To the end, to the end, they remain The Bach Choir joins forces with The Royal British Legion in a tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives in the First World War – with all proceeds going to the Legion. The choir, joined by the Philharmonia Orchestra, performs works with readings given by celebrity guests.
Tickets £12–£65 Bookings > Back cover
In support of
Carols at Cadogan The Bach Choir – Royal British Legion advancing the British Christmas Celebration choral tradition
Wed 12 & Thu 13 Dec 2018, 7pm The Guildhall, London “I am delighted to be working with Trustees, and our The Bach Choir Development Board on plans The Central Band of The Royal British Legion David Hill conductor to expand our annual season programme, to enrich further A spectacular celebration of Christmas The Bach Choir’s distinctive Christmas music and carols for all led by audience and supporter The Bach Choir, the Legion’s own Central Band, experience. Please look out for and soloists, with seasonal readings from celebrity guests. announcements later this year.”
Tickets £40 or £210 David Hill £40: concert (including wine and soft drinks) Musical Director of The Bach Choir £210: concert & champagne reception & post-concert black tie dinner (Thu 13th only) Book 020 3207 2272 [email protected]
Carols at Cadogan promoted
Wed 19 Dec 2018, 7.30pm Cadogan Hall
The Bach Choir London City Brass David Hill conductor Philip Scriven organ Nigel Bates & Matthew Green percussion
A perfect evening of Christmas music Join The Bach Choir, London City Brass and Philip Scriven for an evening of Christmas music and carols for all, featuring the winning entry in the Sir David Willcocks Carol Competition.
Tickets £13.50–£32 Bookings > Back cover & Photography © Beau Image Celebration Christmas British Legion and Royal at Cadogan Carols St Matthew Passion Missa Solemnis
James Gilchrist: St Matthew Passion Sarah Fox: Missa Solemnis
Come & Sing Will Todd: Lights, Stories, Noise, Dreams, Love, and Noodles St Matthew Passion promoted Missa Solemnis promoted
Sun 7 Apr 2019, 11am Fri 28 Jun 2019, 7.30pm Royal Festival Hall Royal Festival Hall
Bach St Matthew Passion Beethoven Mass in D (Missa solemnis)
The Bach Choir Sophie Bevan soprano The Bach Choir Catherine Wyn-Rogers Florilegium Hilary Summers Orchestra of the Age of mezzo-soprano David Hill conductor mezzo-soprano Enlightenment Toby Spence tenor James Gilchrist Evangelist Ed Lyon tenor David Hill conductor Roderick Williams baritone Mark Stone Christ Neal Davies baritone Sarah Fox soprano
“From the heart – may it return to the heart” “Even those who know the St Matthew Passion Beethoven’s mighty setting of the Mass is one well never cease to find new marvels within it.” of the grandest and greatest choral works Claudia Pritchard, Culture Whisper ever composed, taking listeners on a profound We are delighted to welcome back James spiritual journey through turbulent doubt to Gilchrist as the Evangelist for our 2019 ultimate redemption. performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion sung complete, in English. Tickets £10–£52 Bookings > Back cover The performance includes a long lunch interval between Parts I and II. Part II begins at 2.15pm.
Tickets £12–£55 Bookings > Back cover Lights, Stories, promoted Noise, Dreams, Love, and Noodles Come & Sing: promoted Fri 14 Jun 2019, 6.30pm The Dream of Cadogan Hall
Gerontius Todd Lights, Stories, Noise, Dreams, Love, and Noodles Sat 8 Jun 2019, 10.30am The Bach Choir Hinde Street Methodist Church David Hill conductor Will Todd © Andy Holdsworth Todd Will New location, same fantastic Come & Sing day! The Bach Choir Outreach Concert Join David Hill, one of the country’s leading Commissioned by The Bach Choir, Will Todd’s conductors and choir trainers, and members song cycle is an energetic tour de force about our of The Bach Choir for a choral training day to great capital city – the bright lights, the contrast rehearse and perform choruses from Elgar’s between old and new, the vibrancy and changing The Dream of Gerontius. landscapes, the romance and cosmopolitan James Gilchrist © Patrick Allen © Patrick James Gilchrist diversity. It features text written by acclaimed Tickets £20 (Students £5) Audience £5 novelist and poet Michael Rosen. 50% discount for The Bach Choir Friends Bookings > Back cover Tickets Adults £10 Students £5 Children £3 Family (max 2 parents and 2 children) £15 Bookings > Back cover Mellanby © Grahame Fox Sarah Tickets
All tickets for concerts promoted by The Bach Choir are available from: thebachchoir.org.uk or The Bach Choir Ticket Office on 020 7127 9114. Tickets for Royal Festival Hall concerts can also be booked via Southbank Centre on 020 3879 9555.
Group ticket offer Get a 20% discount when you book ten or more tickets. To book group tickets for Royal Festival Hall concerts please call Southbank Centre on 020 7960 4225. To book group tickets for Carols at Cadogan please call The Bach Choir Ticket Office on 020 7127 9114.
Student tickets £5 for all concerts at the Royal Festival Hall and our Come & Sing days.
Concert details are subject to change.
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