The atmospheric city centre setting of the historic St. Michael’s church provides the magical candlelit setting for music from the Baroque to the present day.
British choral conductor and composer, Francis Faux will direct this concert with the Carolean Consort and the Noctis Chamber Choir together with a great line up of soloists.
Claudio Monteverdi Beatus Vir Michael Head The Little Road to Bethlehem Vaughan Williams The Truth sent from above Harold Darke In the Bleak Midwinter Traditional Carol The Holly and the Ivy Traditional Carol Quelle est cette odeur agréable Robert Pearsall In dulci jubilo Tom Clarke A Cradle Song & Angel of the Night Vivaldi Magnificat
British choral conductor and composer, Francis Faux will direct this concert with the Carolean Consort and the Noctis Chamber Choir together with a great line up of soloists:
Soloists Maisie Lewis (soprano), Molly Soo (Mezzo Soprano), Michael Burgess (Tenor) and Matthew Clark (Baritone).
In the wonderfully atmospheric setting of this historic city centre church of St.Michael’s, this candlelit concert brings music from the Baroque to the present day in a wonderful celebration of Christmas.
Bath Recitals brings A Carolean Christmas to the beautiful surroundings of St Michael’s Without on 18 December…
Following the success of Bath Recital’s 2023 A Carolean Christmas, The Carolean Consort join forces with Noctis Chamber Choir for a candlelit concert which will include some beautiful seasonal Baroque music.
One of the highlights will be the Magnificat by one of the most famous baroque composers, Antonio Vivaldi. First composed around 1715, and revised in the 1730s, this nine movement work has been described as ‘a wonder of choral & orchestral power, brimming with light and drama’.
At a time when the Baroque style was beginning to flourish, composers began to write ever more vibrant music suited for the celebration of Christmas. This concert features some of the very best music from that time in this unmissable candlelit concert.
British choral conductor and composer, Francis Faux will direct this concert. Known well locally, Francis started his musical career at Westminster Cathedral Choir School as a chorister and recording with the King’s Consort.
The rest of the concert will feature several much loved and beautiful seasonal pieces alongside some traditional carols. Plus there will also be a few surprises thrown into the mix!
We are also thrilled to include two delightful Christmas themed carols, Cradle Song and Angel of the Night by the former Bath Recitals’ president, Tom Clarke.
Stars of the show will be Bath’s own Noctis Chamber Choir. Noctis has established itself as one of Bath’s premier vocal ensembles, a group of highly skilled choral singers, professional musicians, singing teachers and lay clerks who are known for their versatility and innovation.
Described as ‘A beautiful blend of voices’, Francis Faux’s Noctis Choir have established a reputation for choral excellence, both here in the UK and internationally.
Soprano Maisie Lewis Mezzo Soprano Molly Soo Tenor Michael Burgess Baritone Matthew Clark Conductor Francis Faux
Claudio Monteverdi Beatus Vir Michael Head The Little Road to Bethlehem Vaughan Williams The Truth sent from above Harold Darke In the Bleak Midwinter Traditional Carol The Holly and the Ivy Traditional Carol Quelle est cette odeur agréable Robert Pearsall In dulci jubilo Tom Clarke A Cradle Song & Angel of the Night Vivaldi Magnificat
The Proms come to Bath on 24 August with a spectacular candlelit concert of classical music.
As part of this Bath Recitals Bank Holiday concert, soprano Emilie Parry-Williams will perform Gilbert & Sullivan’s Poor Wandering One, Britten’s Down by the Sally Gardens and Bizet’s Habanera.
Emilie is a Classical Soprano based in South Wales. She was awarded the Bill Weston Young Singers Award from Glyndebourne Opera House in 2018. Following her studies, Emilie was accepted to study a three month Erasmus through the European Opera Academy at the Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini in Florence, Italy.
‘Emilie Parry-Williams… launching into a show stopping rendition of Je Veux Vivre (I Want to Live) from Charles Gounod’s opera Roméo et Juliette.’
The Guardian
Emilie has been singing since she was five years old, and one of her earliest memories is winning her first singing competition at the age of six at her school Eisteddfod.
She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Classical Voice from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating in September 2019, and a First Class Undergraduate Music Degree from City University of London.
In Autumn 2022 Emilie appeared on ‘The Voice UK’ blind auditions TV show in a duo with tenor, Thomas Mottershead teaming with Sir Tom Jones. Watch their audition
Bank Holiday Prom
Handel Coronation Anthems by Candlelight
St Michael’s Without, Broad Street, Bath BA1 5LJ
Emilie Parry-Williams soprano Michael Daniels trumpet David Bednall organ The Georgian Festival Chorale & St Woolos Sinfonia
Parry I was Glad & Jerusalem Holst I vow to thee my country Arne Rule Britannia Bizet Habanera Stanley Trumpet Voluntary Gilbert & Sullivan Poor Wandering One Britten Down by the Salley Gardens Clarke A Silent Day Handel Coronation Anthems Zadok the Priest Let thy hand be strengthened My heart is Inditing The King shall Rejoice
https://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Emilie-2-1.png5761540adminhttps://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bath-recitals.pngadmin2024-08-20 11:26:232024-12-18 17:56:58Emilie Parry-Williams ‘Star of the Show’
London’s famous season of Prom concerts is currently underway; this significant event in British culture and classical music has been described as ‘the world’s largest and most democratic musical festival’.
Originally, promenade audiences would stroll around while the orchestra played. However, for our Bank Holiday Prom at St. Michael’s in Bath on 24 August, everyone will have a very comfortable seat to enjoy a fabulous line-up of classical music.
One of the highlights of the evening will be a performance of Handel’s much-loved Coronation Anthem Zadok the Priest which was performed at the coronation of King Charles III.
Also on the programme will be Parry’s majestic I was Glad, Bizet‘s Habanera from Carmen, Holst’sI vow to thee my country, Stanley’s Trumpet Voluntary and Arne’s Rule Britannia.
This magnificent candlelit programme of orchestral and choral music will also star award-winning soprano Emilie Parry-Williams.
Photo credits: 1. Royal Albert Hall – Amanda Slater: uploaded to https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8457455 2. St.Michael’s Church, Broad Street, Bath – Bath Recitals 3. Emilie Parry-Williams 4. St.Woolos Sinfonia 2023 – Bath Recitals
https://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/144b2b83-b927-497b-5024-0e009c7f061e.jpg6771200adminhttps://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bath-recitals.pngadmin2024-07-30 13:08:142024-07-30 13:20:03A Musical Feast for August Bank Holiday
Join us for this Bank Holiday Prom which will present a magnificent candlelit programme of music starring award-winning soprano Emilie Parry-Williams (pictured).
Parry’s majestic I was Glad is followed with a charming selection of folk-songs, anthems, and opera arias including Bizet’s Habanera,Holst’sI vow to thee my country, Stanley’s Trumpet Voluntary and Arne’sRule Britannia. The programme culminates in a complete performance of Handel’s much-loved Coronation Anthems:
Zadok the Priest
Let thy hand by strengthened
My heart is Inditing
The King shall Rejoice
Bank Holiday Prom
Handel’s Coronation Anthems by Candlelight…
St Michael’s Church, Broad St, Bath BA1 5LJ Saturday 24 August 2024, 7.30pm Tickets £14 to £30
The Georgian Festival Chorale & St Woolos Sinfonia Emilie Parry-Williams soprano Michael Daniels trumpet David Bednall organ
Saturday evening’s ‘Candlelit Extravaganza’ promises to be the highlight of Bath’s spring season – and with all the music by the great baroque composer, Handel.
Opening the concert with the St Woolos Sinfonia is Handel’s Water Music Suite No.1 – one of the most famous pieces of music from the period. It was composed in response to King George I’s request for a concert on the River Thames in 1717.
Next is the delightful organ concerto The Cuckoo and the Nightingale. Handel himself was a gifted organist, and in this piece he uses bird song motifs corresponding to the birds of the title.
The second half contains a rare performance of his 50-minute oratorio The Choice of Hercules. Telling the tale of the youthful Hercules who decide between the paths of pleasure and virtue, it will feature the wonderful voices of Neil Moore, Eleanore Sian Cockerham, Angela Hicks and Michael Burgess.
“This rare and exciting performance of The Choice of Herculesshowcases a line up of International stars, the return of the Georgian Festival Chorale and St Woolos Sinfonia comprising of BBC NOW Musicians.”
Says David Gregory, chairman of Bath Recitals
Dont miss this concert featuring the Georgian Festival Chorale (chorus master Francis Faux) and the St Woolos Sinfonia.
St Michael’s Church, Broad St, Bath BA1 5LJ 20 April 2024, 7.30pm Tickets £14-£30
Handel: Water Music Suite No.1 F major Handel: Concerto for Organ The Cuckoo and the Nightingale Handel: The Choice of Hercules
Supported by The Joyce Fletcher Charitable Trust
Picture credits: 1. Handel Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 2. Westminster Bridge, with the Lord Mayor’s Procession on the Thames, Canaletto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 3.Cuckoo & Nightingale, Public domain, Amazon 4. Artists pics supplied by themselves
Music inspired by an age-old tale of a young man facing a life changing decision features in Bath Recitals’ next concert which promises to be a Candlelit Spring Extravaganza…
The classical myth The Choice of Hercules dates back to the 5th-century and the Athenian sophist Prodicus. In his tale the youthful Hercules must decide between the paths of pleasure and virtue. In 1743 this inspired a poem by Robert Lowth in which the two pathways are represented by two women each trying to convince him with their various arguments.
It sounds like a great storyline for an opera, a musical or a film, but in 1750 Handel wrote this as an Oratorio – probably because religious themes were not allow to be presented as ‘theatre’. But under England’s mid-18th century King George, our German-born composer Handel presented these simply as stories with music and they became hugely popular, even in theatres – as long as there was no dressing up or dancing!
So along with Handel’s Messiah and his other popular oratorios, The Choice of Hercules went down a storm when it was first performed at London’s Royal Opera House on 1 March 1751.
On 20 April the role of Hercules will be sung by counter tenor Neil Moore. Pleasure and Virtue will be sung by sopranos Angela Hicks and Eleonore Sian Cockerham. Pleasure’s attendant will be sung by tenor Michael Burgess. And all supported by a chorus, commenting on the drama as it unfolds and underpinned by an orchestra driving the music forward.
Running time of The Choice of Hercules is about 50 minutes and it promises to be a fabulous second half of this concert. Before the interval we have two of Handel’s favourites with Suite No.1 from Water Musicand his organ concerto The Cuckoo and the Nightingale.
Handel’s Water Music
The highlight of Bath’s Spring Season
St Michael’s Church, Broad St, Bath BA1 5LJ 20 April 2024, 7.30pm Tickets £14-£30
Handel: Water Music Suite No.1 F major Handel: Concerto for Organ The Cuckoo and the Nightingale Handel: The Choice of Hercules
https://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/unnamed-2.jpg12001066adminhttps://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bath-recitals.pngadmin2024-03-21 09:09:052024-03-21 09:12:10Which would you choose – Pleasure or Virtue?
Bath Recitals’ ‘Candlelit Spring Extravaganza’ features three fantastic works by one of the greatest of all Baroque composers. But here are five interesting things you may not know about George Frederic Handel…
1. Handel’s nickname was ‘The Great Bear’ – not only due to his walking style and large stature, but also because of his reportedly fiery temper!
2. Handel was not allowed to play music at home because his father disapproved of his musical aspirations. He used to sneak into the attic to play the clavichord his mother had smuggled there. Handel initially studied law at the University of Halle before dropping out to become a musician.
3. Handel was almost killed in a duel with fellow composer, Johann Mattheson after a brawl broke out at the premiere of Mattheson’s opera. Handel narrowly escaped one of Mattheson’s sword thrusts by a large metal button on his coat.
Afterwards they reconciled their differences and remained friends for the rest of their lives.
4. One of Handel’s most famous works is ‘Zadok The Priest’ written for King George II’s coronation in 1727. But fans of the UEFA Champions League may also recognise their anthem is an adaptation of several elements from Handel’s original composition reshuffled and transformed to suit the new context.
5. Although born and educated in Germany, Handel’s fame was so great that many Brits claimed him as their own. After the debut of his opera Rinaldo he moved into 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, London in 1712. (Guitarist Jimi Hendrix was later to live next door – the two homes are now a museum).
Although appointed as Composer of Music of the Chapel Royal for King George I, the Schism Act of 1714 prohibited him from working without a licence from a bishop. The 1727 ‘Handel Naturalisation Act’ made him a naturalised British Citizen.
Handel’s Water Music
The highlight of Bath’s Spring Season
St Michael’s Church, Broad St, Bath BA1 5LJ 20 April 2024, 7.30pm Tickets £14-£30
Handel: Water Music Suite No.1 F major Handel: Concerto for Organ The Cuckoo and the Nightingale Handel: The Choice of Hercules
https://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/unnamed-16.jpg12001200adminhttps://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bath-recitals.pngadmin2024-02-16 07:43:142024-02-16 07:44:42Getting a Handle on Handel!
We wanted you to be the first to know that tickets have just been launched for Bath Recitals’ ‘Spring Extravaganza’ with a concert of wonderful seasonal Baroque music by Handel on 20 April.
Alongside Handel’s much-loved Water Music will be a delightful concerto for organ The Cuckoo and the Nightingale. This will be followed by one of Handel’s magnificent oratorios The Choice of Hercules.
A terrific line up of soloists including sopranos Angela Hicks, Eleanore Sian Cockerham and counter-tenor Neil Moore will be supported by the Georgian Festival Chorale and the St Woolos Sinfonia.
https://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Canaletto-Westminster-Bridge-thin-scaled.jpeg10742560adminhttps://www.bathrecitals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bath-recitals.pngadmin2024-01-27 03:30:102024-12-18 18:01:27Handel’s Water Music
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