A Boy Was Born - A Choral Celebration - Sheffield Chorale

[Concerts 10]

Sheffield Chorale – A Choral Celebration, Saturday 09 March

19:30, St Andrew’s Church, 31 Psalter Lane, S11 8YL

 

Duration: 90 minutes with 20 minute interval

 

Tickets: £10, £8 (concessions), £6 (students). Under 16’s free.

 

Tickets for this event are not available from the central box office. Click here to purchase tickets online now

 

‘A Boy Was Born’ is a festival of music organised by the University of Sheffield celebrating 100 years of Benjamin Britten. For more information please visit: http://www.aboywasborn.co.uk

 

Britten’s choral music will be performed alongside songs sung by Peter Thompson, winner of the David Clover award in the Oratorio and Sacred Song section. Music includes: rejoice in the Lamb, Hymn to St columba, Five Flower Songs, Hymn to the Virgin, Hymn to St Peter and Festival Te Deum

 

It was while Britten was studying at Gresham’s School he became exposed to sacred choral music, igniting a lifelong interest in composing music for choirs. Britten composed over sixty non-operatic choral works, among the earliest of these the illuminating gem Hymn to the Virgin, composed while the composer was just 16 and studying at Gresham’s. rejoice in the Lamb, one of Britten’s most popular and widely performed vocal works, was composed in 1943 for St Matthew’s Church in Northampton. The work was commissioned by Walter Hussey, vicar of the Church, later Dean of Chichester Cathedral and a great patron of the arts. This colourful and dramatic work sets an unusual and chaotic poem by 18th century poet Christopher Smart, written while the poet was interred in a mental asylum. The work describes the worship of God by all created beings and things, each in its own way, including flowers, a cat, a mouse, even the letters of the alphabet!

 

Sheffield Chorale

Neil Taylor (director)

Peter Thompson (baritone)

 

The Sheffield Chorale originated in September 1972 and from the outset the choir sang all kinds of music, from the early Renaissance to the 20th century – sacred, secular, part songs, ‘pop’ songs, songs from the shows and major choral works. Over the years, the choir has raised many thousands of pounds for local and national charities through many of its performances, as well as making a number of European tours and funding its own recordings. Neil Taylor was appointed Musical Director in April 2011.

 

Baritone Peter Thompson has received training from Howard Charles, William Coleman, and now in Sheffield, Peter Taylor. He is a keen choral singer and is a member of the Sterndale Singers, the Sheffield Chamber Choir and the Abbeydale Singers. Peter has a love of art song and organises regular collaborative recital evenings in order to promote interest and enjoyment of art song in the Sheffield area.

 

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