Up 'N' Coming Events

NEPAC ‘Last Night of the Proms’ Charity Concert

A concert in the City Hall, Newcastle.

This will be the 21st North East Promenaders Against Cancer (NEPAC) concert to raise funds for cancer research and patient support. Although the content of the programme is not yet finalised, it is likely that members of Bishopwearmouth Choral Society will be making a significant contribution to the choral content.

Charity Concert – in aid of Age Concern

A Wednesday evening event by Bishopwearmouth Young Singers and Bishopwearmouth Choral Society Chamber Choir to be held in St.Chad’s Church, East Herrington, Sunderland.

Ticket details to follow.

Coffee Morning

A Saturday morning event in the Restaurant of Sunderland Minster.

Why not join the Society in a social event which comes with a raffle and stalls selling crafts and home-baked cakes, while enjoying the tea/coffee and a chat.

‘Last Night of the Proms’

Once again, Bishopwearmouth Choral Society is taking part in this Saturday evening concert at the City Hall, Newcastle.

Organised by North East Promenaders Against Cancer (NEPAC) this now annual charity concert is in its 20th year and will feature singers, including Janice Cairns, Suzanne Manuell, Blake Fischer, James Cleverton and Grame Danby, and Bradley Creswick and his violin.

The programme will include some of the best of the previous 19 Proms, many audience participation pieces – hopefully the 1812 Overture with paper bags – along with popular arias and light music.

Tickets are £13 to £27, obtainable from the City Hall Box Office (Tel: 2612606)

Haydn’s ‘St.Nicholas Mass’ & ‘Theresienmesse’

A Saturday evening concert in Sunderland Minster.

Conducted by David Murray.

Soloists:          Jessica Holmes – Soprano

                        Sally Burchell – Mezzo Soprano

                        Mark Chaundy – Tenor

                       James Oldfield – Bass

Haydn only composed works for the church intermittently for five decades and then between 1796 and 1802 he produced one setting of the mass per year. Hayden, by now in his sixties but still alert to the opportunity for innovation, expanded the format by combining an extended setting of the mass text with the full resources of the orchestra – resulting in the symphonic mass. The St.Nicholas Mass was written earlier, in 1772, and is not on the same scale as the later masses but still demonstrates his tunefulness and joy. The Theresienmesse from 1799 was originally simply entitled ‘Missa’ on its title page but is associated with Marie Therese, the wife of the Emporer Franz ll. It was composed the year after the noted Nelson Mass but is equally masterful.

Tickets £12.00 and £10.00 (Concessions) in the Nave and £6.00 in the Gallery, with limited views. Seats are un-numbered and doors open at 6.45 p.m.

Tickets can now be booked on-line, at a small extra cost, from WeGotTickets at http://www.wegottickets.com/f/2260

Dvorak’s ‘Stabat Mater’ & Brahms’ ‘Nanie’

A Saturday evening concert in Sunderland Minster.

Conducted by David Murray

The soloists are Katherine Moore (soprano), Sarah Parry (contralto), Christopher Turner (tenor) and Njabulo Madlala (baritone).

 Tickets are £12.00 (£10.00 concessions) in the Nave or £6.00 for the Gallery, with limited view.  Seats are un-numbered and doors open at 6.45 p.m.

 Tickets can now be booked on-line, at a small additional cost, from WeGotTickets at http://www.wegottickets.com/f/1934

 The composing of the cantata ‘Stabat Mater’ was Antonín Dvořák’s reaction to the death of his two year old daughter Josepfa.  The work was begun in 1876 and was dedicated to František Hušpauer “ as a souvenir to the friend of his young days”. Dvořák was obliged to postpone the orchestration of his work due to other obligations but he returned to the final stylisation in 1877 after two more of his children tragically died within a short space of time, one as the result of accidentally drinking a phosphorus solution and the other to smallpox. It was his first work on a religious theme and there is no doubt that it is both a work of mourning and a work of healing. It was first performed in 1880.

 ‘Nänie’ (the German form of the Latin nenia, meaning a funeral song) is a beautiful piece written in memory of Brahms’  friend, the artist Anselm Feuerbach who died in 1880. It is based on a poem by Schiller dealing with the transience of life. The first sentence, Auch das Schöne muß sterben, translates to “Even the beautiful must die”. The work contains some interesting references very discreetly woven into the fabric. There is the so called Clara Embelm which appeared first in Schumann’s Fantasy Op 17, and the use of it implies that the death of Brahms’ godson, Felix Schumann, may have been a source of inspiration for the work. There is further a thematic connection between Nanie and Ein Deutsch Requiem, suggesting that the Clara Emblem may have been a germinal motive for the Requiem . There is even a reference to the opening of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op 81a, Les Adieux, also called Das Lebewohl (or The Farewell). It is one of the most rarely performed pieces by Brahms mostly due to its difficulty.

Rutter’s ‘Gloria’ & Bruckner’s ‘Motets’

A Saturday evening concert in Sunderland Minster.

Conducted by David Murray.

In addition to the choral works, there will be several brass and percussion pieces :-

Fanfare from the Ballet Le Peri for brass quintet by Paul Dukas, Die Bankelsangerlieder for brass quintet, an extract from Prince of Denmark’s March by Jeremiah Clarke, six dances from The Danserye by Tylman, Marche de Timbales by André and Jacques Philidor and Little Polly’s Polka by Keith Bartlett.

Tickets £12.00 and £10.00 (Concessions) in the Nave and £6.00 in the Gallery, with limited views. Seats are un-numbered and doors open at 6.45 p.m.

Tickets can now be booked on-line, at a small extra cost, from WeGotTickets at http://www.wegottickets.com/f/1709

Bishopwearmouth Young Singers Summer Concert

A Friday Evening concert in Ewesley Road Methodist Church.

The Young Singers, supported by the Chamber Choir of Bishopwearmouth Choral Society, will host their own annual summer concert. Tickets will be available at the door.

A concert in memory of Doug Hughill

A Saturday evening concert in Whitburn Parish Church, Whitburn, Sunderland.

This concert is being held in memory of Doug Hughill, former Head of Music at Monkwearmouth School and well known local musician, and include many of his own compositions and arrangements. All monies raised will be contributed to St.Clare’s Hospice in Jarrow.

Doug was born in Sunderland, attending Bede School. After studying in Whinchester, he returned to Sunderland to become a teacher at Barnes School, followed by Head of Music at Castle View School before being appointed to Monkwearmouth. Music was a passion to Doug and he excelled at composition and arranging. At the schools where he worked he formed orchestras, brass bands and choirs and soon became renowned for his contribution to the development of music in schools. After his retirement Doug accompanied, arranged and composed for the St.Andrew’s Singers.

This concert will feature songs by the Bishopwearmouth Young Singers and the Bishopwearmouth Choral Society Chamber Choir, including Doug’s arrangements of Hoagy Carmichael songs and some French folk songs. Other musical items will be provided by Eileen Bown and David Murray – piano, Rachael Fuller – Flautist, and by Doug Hughill’s grand-daughter – piano.

Tickets are £10.00 including refreshments (no concessions) with children under 16 admitted free (although a donation would be welcomed) available from the church, through Bishopwearmouth Young Singers or at the door.

‘ A Christmas Carol with a difference’

A Wednesday evening concert at Ewesley Road Methodist Church, Chester Road, Sunderland.

Bishopwearmouth Young Singers, supported by some members of the Choral Society, present a Christmas Carol with quite a difference.

Tickets £5.00 (concessions £3.00)