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Chantez! A Night of French music [2016-05-21]

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Chantez! A night of French music
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Year:
2016
Date:
May 21st, 2016
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The Brandenburg
Sinfonia

Saturday
1"t May 2016
.30 pm

Royal Grammar School
Guildford
Founded 1509

Leading independent day school for boys aged 11 - 18

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“The range of musical opportunities is outstanding”
[ST Inspection

Vivace

Chorus

Chansons des bois dAmaranthe

Jules Massenet

Madrigal

Gabriel Faure

Pavane

Gabriel Faure

Pavane pour une infante déefunte

Maurice Ravel

Cantique de Jean Racine

Gabriel Faure

Panis Angelicus

César Franck

Requiem

Gabriel Faure

Jocelyn Somerville

Soprano

Matthew Wood

Bass

The Brandenburg Sinfonia
Conductor: Jeremy Backhouse

Allimages © Ash Mills

Flash photography, audio and video recording are not permitted
without the prior written consent of the Vivace Chorus. Please
also kindly switch off all mobile phones and alarms on digital
watches. Thank you.
Vivace Chorus

CHANTEZ! A Night of French Music
Music from France has a very special quality and this evening's
programme offers a selection of some of the best known works by
leading French composers of the later nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. Fauré's Requiem is now firmly established as
one of the most appealing works in the choral repertoire and this is

joined by his well-known Pavane and Cantique de Jean Racine.
Cesar Franck and Ravel are represented by two familiar works this
evening, with the programme being completed by two fascinating
and little-known pieces - Chansons des bois dAmaranthe by
Massenet and Madrigal by Fauré.

Massenet: Chansons des bois d’Amaranthe

Chorus, Orchestra, Piano

Jules Massenet was born in St. Etienne in 1842 and died in Paris in
1912. As with several other French composers, Massenet studied at
the Paris Conservatoire, assisting his parents financially by playing a

drum and triangle in a theatre orchestra. His compositions included
orchestral

suites, oratorios, around 200 songs and 27 operas,
including 3 favourites: Werther, Manon and Thais. Massenet's operas

contain music which is both dramatic and tuneful, and one of his
best known items is the orchestral intermezzo known as Meditation

from Thais.
Massenet's collection of 5 songs, Chanson des bois dAmaranthe,
was first performed at the Paris Opéra on Christmas Eve in 1907. The

text by Marc Legrand, after Redwitz, has an enchanting pastoral
nature and Massenet provided colourful and intensely appealing
music. The first song O bon printemps depicts the lively bright
sunshine experienced in spring and this is followed by Oiseau des

bois, a joyful presentation of birds and their song, suitably sung by
the soprano/alto section of the chorus. The mood changes with the
lento setting of Cheres fleurs, representing the beauty of flowers
generating love and this is followed by a radiant, slow-moving song

O ruisseau, concentrating on the tender flowing of a stream. A

wonderful contrast to these 2 atmospheric slow chansons is the
fortissimo opening to the final chanson Chantez! - a gloriously joyful

outburst from

the full chorus,

supported

by sparkling

magical

accompaniment.
Vivace Chorus

3

Chansons des_ bois d’Amaranthe

1. O bon printemps
O bon printemps, printemps fidéle!

O lovely spring, faithful spring,

Tu nous reviens les bras chargés,

You come back with laden arms,

Pour l'arbre, de feuilles nouvelles,

For the tree, new leaves,

Pour la fleur, d’habits ramages.

For the flower, new colours.

Tu rends au ciel sa clarté pure,

You give to the sky its pure clarity,

A l'oiseau son chant plein d'émoi,
Le gai soleil a la nature...

Mais que rapportes-tu pour moi?

2. Oiseau des bois

To the bird its song full of feeling,

To all nature the bright sunshine...
But what do you bring for me?

Oiseau des bois, petit farouche,

Oh woodbird, tiny bird so wild,

Dis pourquoi ta chanson me touche

Tell me why your song moves me

Plus que de coutume, aujourd'hui?

More than usual today?

En t'écoutant, ma joie est telle

Que je voudrais avoir des ailes
Et jusqu'a Dieu mon cceur te suit.

Hearing you, my happiness soars

So that | wish | could have wings
And my heart follows you up to the
Lord.

As-tu vu, cette nuit, en songe,

Ta compagne pour cet avril?
Prends bien garde a ce doux
mensonge!

Comme moi, tu cours grand peéril.

3. Cheres fleurs
Cheres fleurs, ne vous fiez point
Au vent qui vous fréle de l'aile!

Il parle trop d'amour fidéle :
L'amour fidéle parle moins.

4. O ruisseau
O ruisseau, ta voix est caline
Et je t'ai surpris plus d'un jour

Echangeant avec l'‘églantine
Secretement des mots d'amour.

Did you see, last night in your dream,

Your companion for this April?
Beware of that sweet lie!

Like me, you are in great danger.

Dear flowers, place not any trust in
the wind that brushes you with its
wing!

It talks too much of faithful love:
True love speaks less.

O stream, your voice is tender

And | have surprised you more than
once

Secretly exchanging words of love
with the dog rose.

Vivace Chorus

Des que tu parlais, d'elle méme

As soon as you spoke, of its own

Sa branche s'inclinait vers toi,

accord Its branch leaned down to

N'est-ce pas? Si jamais on m'‘aime,

you. Is that not so?

Tes mots d'amour, apprends-les moi,

If ever someone loves me,
Please teach me your words of love.

5. Chantez!

Chantez tout a votre loisir,

Sing at your leisure,

Petits oiseaux aux voix légeres,

Sweet birds with voices fair,

Chantez les splendeurs printanieres,
Chantez l'‘amour et le plaisir!
Lorsque vous chanteriez encore

Des milliers de soirs et d'aurores,
S

,

~ Sing of the splendours of spring,
Sing of love and pleasure!
Even were you to sing

For thousands of evenings and

dawns,

Vous n'auriez pas assez chanté

You would not have sung enough

L'ceuvre divine et sa beaute.

Of the Creator's work and its beauty.

Fauré: Madrigal - Opus 35
Chorus, Orchestra, Piano
Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) enjoyed a long and fruitful life as a leading
French composer, teacher, pianist and organist. The youngest of 6
children, in his early years he spent hours playing the harmonium in

the chapel adjoining his school. An elderly blind lady often came to

hear him and give advice; she was so impressed by his playing that
she told his father about his son's exceptional gift for music.
Faure was widely regarded as the greatest master of French Song.
His attempts at symphonies and a violin concerto were not a

success and, apart from some stage music, his main compositions
were songs, sacred music, chamber music and solo piano works.

Gabriel Fauré's Madrigal Op.35 is a four-part vocal setting of a poem
by Armand Silvestre, written in 1883 as a wedding gift for the French

composer, André Messager, and what could be better for such an
occasion than a text which centres so positively on the word love.

Faure's setting is a great pleasure from start to finish. Basses and
tenors open the madrigal as a beautiful melodious duet which is

then taken over in similar fashion by altos and sopranos. Gentle
individual vocal phrases follow and all the singers join together for

the final section, supported by a delightful flowing accompaniment.
Vivace Chorus

5

Madrigal
Inhumaines qui, sans merci,

Inhumanly cruel women,

Vous raillez de notre souci,

You mock our cares without mercy,

Aimez quand on vous aime!

Love when you are loved!

Ingrats qui ne vous doutez pas

Ungrateful men, who do not know

Des réves eclos sur vos pas,

The dreams that flower at your feet,

Aimez quand on vous aime!

Love when you are loved!

Sachez, o cruelles Beautes,

Learn, cruel beauties, that your

Que les jours d'aimer sont comptes.
Sachez, amoureux inconstants,

Que le bien d'aimer n'a qu'un temps.

days of loving are numbered.

Learn, inconstant lovers, that the gift
of love comes only once.

Aimez quand on vous aime!

Love when you are loved!

Un méme destin nous poursuit

The same destiny awaits us
And our folly is the same,

Et notre folie est la meme:

C'est celle d'aimer qui nous fuit,

C'est celle de fuir qui nous aime!

It's those who love us that we shun
And those that shun us whom we
love.

Fauré: Pavane
Chorus, Orchestra

If the Requiem is Fauré's best known substantial work, it is his Pavane
which undoubtedly remains his most familiar shorter composition.
This nostalgic piece, with its famous melody, appeared first for
orchestra alone. However, his patroness, Vicomtesse Elizabeth
Greffulhe, requested that Fauré should add some vocal parts, so
that the piece could be performed in a dramatic context as part of
an entertainment given by her in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris - the
chorus adding their contribution to the proceedings from a position
off-stage. The verses they sang were inconsequential, but the effect
was pure magic.
Pavane
C'est Lindor, c'est Tircis et c'est tous

It's Lindor! It's Tircis! And all our

nos vainqueurs!

conquerors!

C'est Myrtil, c'est Lyde! Les reines

It's Myrtil! It's Lydé! The queens of

de nos coeurs!

our hearts!

Comme ils sont provocants!

How provocative they are, how

Comme ils sont fiers toujours!

forever proud!
Vivace Chorus

Comme on ose régner sur nos sorts
et nos jours!

Faites attention! Observez la

How they dare to reign over our
destinies and our lives!
Watch out! Keep to the measure!

mesure!

O la mortelle injure! La cadence est
moins lente!

O the mortal injury! The cadence is
not so slow!

And the fall more certain!

Et la chute plus sdre!

Nous rabattrons bien leurs caquets!
Nous serons bientét leurs laquais!
Qu'ils sont laids! Chers minois!

We'll tone down their chatter!
Soon we'll be their lackeys!

How ugly they are! Sweet faces!
How madcap they are!

Qui'ils sont fols! Airs coquets!

Coquettish airs!

Et c'est toujours de méme,

And always it is the samel!

Et c'est ainsi toujours!

And so will always be!
They love one another! They hate

On s'adore! On se hait!

On maudit ses amours!

one another! They curse their loves!

Adieu Muyrtil, Eglé, Chloé!

Farewell, Myrtil, Eglé, Chloé!

Démons moqueurs!
Adlieu donc et bons jours aux tyrans

de nos coeurs!

Mocking demons!
Farewell and good day to the tyrants

of our hearts!

Et bons jours!

And good day!

Ravel : Pavane pour une infante défunte

Orchestra

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was a pupil of Fauré
at the Paris
Conservatoire. He and Debussy became the best
known French

composers of the early twentieth century and
they both excelled

particularly in orchestral and chamber music, togethe
r with music
for solo piano.

A Pavane is strictly a slow, stately dance of Italian origin
dating from
the sixteenth century. Probably the two most familiar
Pavanes are
those written by Fauré and Ravel, both of which are feature
d in this
concert.

Ravel's

composed

for

Pavane pour une infante défunte

solo

piano

and

this

was

was

orchestrated

composer himself at a later date, along with other solo

originally

by

the

piano works.

This Pavane is a six-minute, gently flowing piece
representing a
dance in memory of the sad death of a young princess.
Vivace Chorus

7

Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
Chorus, Orchestra

The Cantique de Jean Racine dates from Fauré's early years and was
a work for which he gained a major composition prize. The text is
one of the Cantiques spirituels written by the French dramatist, Jean
Racine, and this inspired Fauré to compose a miniature masterpiece,
whose gently flowing vocal and instrumental lines leave a lasting
impression on the listener. This work was originally written for choir
with harmonium and string quartet accompaniment and it is the
instrumental music which provides such a hauntingly beautiful

background to the equally impressive choral music of this piece. The
choral basses, followed by other members of the choir, open with
the text “Verbe egal au Tres-Haut" (O divine Word above.)
Cantique de Jean Racine
Verbe égal au Tres-Haute,

Word equal to the Most High,

notre unique espérance,

our only hope,

Jour éternel de la terre
et des cieux,

and heavens,

De la paisible nuit
nous rompons le silence,
Divin Sauveur, jette sur nous les
yeux!

Eternal day of the earth
We break the silence
of the peaceful night

Divine Saviour, look down upon us!

Repands sur nous le feu

Imbue us with the fire

de ta grace puissante,

of thy great mercy;

Que tout l'enfer fuie

All hell flees at the sound of your

au son de ta voix;

voice.

Dissipe le sommeil

Dispel the sleep

d'une ame languissante,

of a languishing soul

Qui la conduit a l'oubli de tes lois!

That leads to forgetting your laws!

O Christ, sois favorable

O Christ show your favour

a ce peuple fidele

to your faithful people

Pour te benir maintenant rassemblé,

Now gathered here to worship you.

Recois les chants qu'il offre

Receive the songs which they offer

a ta gloire immortelle,

to your immortal glory,

Et de tes dons qui'il

And to your gifts, so that they

retourne combleé!

may return fulfilled!

8

Vivace Chorus

Franck: Panis Angelicus
Chorus, Orchestra, Organ
Cesar Franck (1822-1890) was born at Liege in Belgium. His father
was a banker, but being passionately fond of music, he ensured his
two sons, Cesar and Joseph, received the best education in music,

moving to Paris so that they could study at the Conservatoire.
Cesar died at the age of 68 having composed many works including

a fine symphony, symphonic poems and chamber music, as well as
songs, organ music and an immensely impressive work for soloists,

chorus and orchestra, Les Béatitudes. However, his best known vocal
piece is undoubtedly his famous setting of Panis angelicus (Bread of
the

angel-host).

accompanied

This

was

originally

scored

for

tenor

solo

by organ and other instruments (a great hit in a

recorded version by Luciano Pavarotti and other leading tenors).
However, there are other versions of this piece, including the well-

known

John

Rutter arrangement for an accompanied four-part
chorus and this is the version to be heard this evening.

Panis Angelicus
Panis angelicus

Bread of the angel host

fit panis hominum;

sent down from God above

Dat panis caelicus
figuris terminum:

O res mirabilis!
irabilis!

manducat Dominum
Pauper, servus et humilis.

Body of Christ our Lord in token of his
love.

O gift most wonderful!

Christ as our sacrament:

Humble, lowly, all share his sacred
feast.

Interval
(20 minutes)

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Requiem
Introit - Kyrie
Requiem aeternam dona eis

Grant them eternal rest, Lord:

Domine:

And may perpetual light shine on

Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

them.
Thou, Lord, art praised in Sion:

Te decet hymnus, Deus in Sion:
et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam,
ad te omnis caro veniet.

and a vow shall be paid to Thee in
Jerusalem.

Hear my prayer, to Thee all flesh
shallcome.

Kyrie eleison.,

Lord have mercy upon us.

Christe eleison.

Christ have mercy upon us.

Offertorium
O Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae,

O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,

libera animas defunctorum

Deliver the souls of all the faithful

de poenis inferni et de profundo

dead from the pain of hell and from

lacu.

the deep pit.

O Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae,

O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,

libera animas defunctorum de ore

Deliver them from the lion's mouth,

leonis,
ne absorbeat tartarus,
ne cadant in obscurum.
Hostias et preces tibi Domine,

That hell may not swallow them up,
That they not fall into darkness.

Sacrifices and prayers we offer Thee,

laudis offerimus.

Lord; receive them for those souls

Tu suscipe pro animabus illis,

Whom we commemorate this day.

quarum hodie memoriam facimus.

Fac eas, Domine,
De morte transire ad vitam,

Quam olim Abrahae promisisti
Et semini eius.
O Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae,

Lord, let them pass from death into

life,
Which Thou didst promise to
Abraham and his seed.
O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,

libera animas defunctorum

Deliver the souls of all the faithful

de poenis inferni et de profundo

dead from the pain of hell and from

lacu:

the deep pit.

ne cadant in obscurum.

That they not fall into darkness.

Amen

Amen

Sanctus
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus,

Holy, holy, holy,

Dominus Deus Sabaoth.

Lord God of Hosts.

Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.

Heaven and Earth are full of Thy

glory.
Hosanna in the highest

Pie Jesu
Pie Jesu Domine,

Blessed Lord Jesus,

Dona eis requiem,

Grant them rest,

Dona eis sempiternam requiem

Grant them eternal rest

Agnus Dei
Agnus Deli, qui tollis peccata mundi,

Lamb of God, who takest away the

dona eis requiem.

sins of the world, grant them rest.

Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine,
Cum sanctis tuis in aeternum,

May eternal light shine upon them,
Lord,

With Thy saints for ever,

Quia pius es.

For Thou art merciful.

Requiem aeternam dona eis,

Grant them eternal rest, Lord,

Domine,

And may perpetual light shine upon

Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

them.

Libera me
Libera me, Domine, de morte

Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death,

aeterna

On that fearful day

In die illa tremenda,
Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra;
dum veneris judicare saeculum per
ignem.

When the heavens and the earth

shall tremble;
When thou shalt come to judge the

world by fire.

Tremens factus sum ego et timeo,

| tremble, and | fear the judgment

dum discussio venerit atque

and the wrath to come,

ventura ira.
Vivace Chorus

{ Dies il a, dies irae calamitatis et Day of wrath, that day of ter or,

|

[

miseriae,
dies illa, dies magna et amara

calamity and misery,
That great and bitter day.

valde.

Requiem aeternam dona eis
Domine,

Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Grant them eternal rest, Lord,
And may perpetual light shine upon

them.

Deliver me, Lord.

Libera me, Domine.

In Paradisum
In paradisum deducant angeli;

May the angels lead you into

In tuo adventu suscipiant te

paradise;

martyres,

May the martyrs receive you and

et perducant te in civitatem

lead you into the holy city Jerusalem.

Chorus angelorum te suscipiat,

May choirs of angels receive you

Et cum Lazaro quondam paupere

And with Lazarus, once a beggar,

aeternam habeas requiem.

May you have eternal rest

sanctam Jerusalem.

Printed music for this evening's concert has been obtained from
Surrey Performing Arts Library
Oxford University Press
Yorkshire Music Library

We are most grateful to these organisations.

Vivace Chorus

19

Jocelyn Somerville - Soprano
Currently

studying

with

Elizabeth

Ritchie at the Royal Academy of Music,
Jocelyn

previously

completed

Masters in Advanced

(Performance)

at

a

Musical Studies

Royal

Holloway,

University of London. Previously having
won the Sir Geraint Evans award, she

completed a choral scholarship with St
Martin-in-the-Fields and sang as part of
the London Symphony Chorus at The

Barbican.

She

has

English

Baroque

sung
Choir

with

The

under

the

direction of Jeremy Jackman, briefly with the Bach Choir under
David Hill, and has enjoyed singing with Howard Williams after an
introduction

by Dame Emma Kirkby, who continues to take an

interest in Jocelyn's musical progress.

As a member of the Vasari Singers under Jeremy Backhouse, she
has

performed

solos

in

Canterbury

Cathedral,

St

Pauls

Knightsbridge, and Douai Abbey in Berkshire, as well as in the

soprano soloist role on their recording of Gabriel Jackson's Requiem
which reached No. 5 in the Specialist Classical Charts. She featured
on their 2014 disc, singing the well-known solo line in Allegri's
Miserere, and recently took part in an unusual project featuring
renaissance choral music with reggae backing tracks. More recently
Jocelyn embarked on a three week American tour, singing in
Charleston, York, and Savannah, with a programme including
Renaissance French repertoire and English Song. She regularly
travels around the country performing with choirs and orchestras.

As well as possessing a pure tone and ringing flexibility, Jocelyn has
an engaging and memorable platform presence which makes her
enjoyable to watch as well as to listen to.

She has performed professionally for the last seven years, and
enjoys Baroque music, as well as light opera, lieder, melodie, and
English
Song.
She
can
be
contacted via
her
website,
www.jocelynsomerville.com.
20

Vivace Chorus

Matthew Wood - Baritone
Having begun his musical education as

Head

Chorister of his

parish

church

choir in Kent, Matthew went on to read
Music

and

University
with

Mary

English

where
Hitch

he

at

Lancaster

studied

and

singing

directed

the

teacher

in

University Chamber Choir.

While

training

as

a

Canterbury, Matthew became director
of the Kent Youth Barbershop and his
college chamber choir.

Specialising in oratorio and English song, Matthew has performed as
a soloist in St John's, Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields and on

choral tours of France and ltaly. As well as deputising with several
London choirs, he sings with the Vasari Singers, one of Britain's

leading chamber choirs, and has sung solo baritone with them in
recent performances of Requiems by Fauré and Durufle.
Matthew is a keen composer and arranger and has written several
arrangements for the Kent Youth Barbershop and various school
choirs. His Versicles and Responses are published by Shorter House

and have been performed by the Vasari Singers in Bath Abbey and
Chester Cathedral.

Matthew is Head of Music at St Dunstan's College, Lewisham.

BRAVO!
‘My guests at the concert were absolutely blown away by
the concert on Saturday ...."
Just to say it was a fantastic evening. Plus you've opened
my eyes & ears to Poulenc! *

Vivace Chorus

21

Jeremy

is

one

of

conductors

of

amateur

Britain's

leading

choirs.

He

began his musical career in Canterbury
Cathedral
Chorister.

where
In

he

1980

was

Senior

he was appointed

Music Editor at the RNIB, where he was
responsible for the transcription of print
music into Braille. He has worked for
both EMI Classics and later Boosey &

Hawkes Music Publishers as a Literary
Editor, but now pursues his career as a
freelance conductor.

Jeremy

has

been

the

sole

conductor

of

the

internationally-

renowned chamber choir Vasari Singers since its inception in 1980.
Since winning the prestigious Sainsbury's Choir of the Year
competition in 1988, the Vasari Singers has performed regularly at
concert venues and cathedrals throughout the UK and abroad.
Jeremy and Vasari have broadcast frequently on BBC Radio and
Classic FM, and have a discography of over 25 CDs on the EMI,
Guild, Signum and Naxos labels; they have recently launched their
own VasariMedia label with a recording of Jonathan Rathbone's
Under the shadow of His wing, which they premiered in 2014.
In January 1995, Jeremy was appointed Music Director of the Vivace
Chorus.

Alongside

the

standard

classical

works,

Jeremy

has

conducted the Vivace Chorus in some ambitious programmes,

including Howells' Hymnus Paradisi and Szymanowski's Stabat
Mater, Mahler's ‘Resurrection’ Symphony (No. 2), Prokofiev's Alexander
Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible, Mahler's 'Symphony of a Thousand'’ (No.
8) and Verdi's Requiem in the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra.

In January 2009, Jeremy took up the post of Music Director of the
Salisbury Community Choir. In 2013 the choir celebrated its 21st
Anniversary with a major concert in Salisbury Cathedral in October,
featuring the world premiere of a specially-commissioned
community work by Will Todd, The City Garden, which they
subsequently toured to Lincoln (2014) and Guildford (2015).
22

Vivace Chorus

oS

Artistic Director: Robert Porter
Associate Music Director: Sarah Tenant-Flowers

The Brandenburg Sinfonia is one of the most dynamically versatile
musical organisations in the country. It is renowned for its special
quality of sound and poised vivacity in performance. The orchestra
performs regularly in the majority of the major venues across the
country, and in London at the Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, Queen
Elizabeth Hall, Fairfield Halls and St John's, Smith Square. The
Brandenburg Sinfonia is also in great demand abroad and has visited
France, USA, Bermuda, the Channel Islands, Barbados, Russia,
Germany, Japan and Hong Kong. In 1999 the orchestra established a
major concert series at both St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Crystal
Palace Bowl.
A large number of artists of international standing have worked with
the orchestra including Emanuel Hurwitz, Lesley Garrett, John
Georgiadis, John Wallace, Michael Thompson and Gordon Hunt. Its
repertoire ranges from Bach to Lloyd Webber and its members give
around 100 performances of orchestral, chamber, choral and
operatic music during the year.
Violin 1

Cello

Bassoon

Mihkel Kerem

Ali McKenzie

Adam Mackenzie
Bob Porter

Stephen Bryant

Steffan Morris

Anna Harpham

Harriet Wiltshire

Miriam Teppich

Sarah Westley

Lukas Hank

Charis Jensen
Violin 2
Elizabeth van Ments

Horn
Martin Grainger

Bass

Hugh Sisley

Jan Zahourek

Harp

Andrew Davies

Gabriella dal'Olio

Barbara Dziewiecka

Flute

lan Mull!n

...................................................................

Thea Spiers

Chloe Vincent

Plaio/Organ

Greta Mutlu

Oboe

William Nicholson

Viola

Lydia Griffiths

Matthew Quenby

Rachel Broadbent

Jgn Thorne

Clarinet

Richard
Cookson
:

Andrew Harper

Moty Cookbim

Marie de Bry
Vivace Chorus

Fiona Mitchell
23

About Vivace Chorus
Jeremy Backhouse

Music Director

Francis Pott

Accompanist

James Garrow

Chairman

The choir has come a long way since it began in 1946 as the
Guildford Philharmonic Choir, and now has an enviable
reputation for performing first-class concerts across a wide
range of musical repertoire. Particular successes include a
sell-out performance in May 2011 of Mahler's Symphony No. 8,
the 'Symphony of a Thousand', at the Royal Albert Hall, a
highly acclaimed performance in November 2012 of Britten's
War Requiem and another Royal Albert Hall success in May
2014 when we performed the Verdi Requiem.

Since 1995, Vivace has thrived under the exceptional
leadership of this evening's conductor, Jeremy Backhouse.
Jeremy's passion for choral works and his sheer enthusiasm
24

Vivace Chorus

for music-making are evident
at every rehearsal and every
performance. He is supported
by Francis Pott, who is not just
a
very
fine
rehearsal
accompanist, but is also a
composer
of
international
repute and an accomplished
concert pianist.

In addition to our own concerts in Guildford and London, we
also sing in various charity concerts and, with our regular
orchestra, the Brandenburg Sinfonia, take part in the
Brandenburg Choral Festival each year in St Martin-in-theFields. We also like to take our music-making overseas and
have toured to France, Italy, Germany and later this year, will
be heading to Austria to sing in Salzburg and Vienna.
We're a friendly and sociable choir that enjoys singing
traditional choral classics alongside the challenge of
contemporary and newly-commissioned music. If that whets
your appetite, do come and join us! We rehearse on Monday
evenings in the Millmead Centre, Millmead, Guildford.
Contact
our
membership
secretary Jane
Brooks
at
membership@vivacechorus.org and for more information, visit
our website, vivacechorus.org, and follow us on Facebook and
Twitter - @VivaceChorus.

Vivace Chorus Singers
FIRST SOPRANO

Jane Brooks

Carol Hobbs

FIRST BASS

Selam Adamu

Liz Durning

Roz Marshall

John Bawden

Pam Alexander

Kate Emerson

Catherine Middleton Phil Beastall

Amelia Atkinson

Valentina Faedi

Val Morcom

Richard Broughton

Frances Bamber

Sheila Hodson

Pamela Murrell

Simon Browning
Michael Dudley

Helen Beevers

Jean Leston

Jacqueline Norman

Joanna Bolam

Judith Lewy

Beryl Northam

Brian John

Mary Broughton

Liz Martin

Sheila Rowell

Jeremy Johnson

Rebecca Kerby

Lois McCabe

Prue Smith

Jon Long

Mo Kfouri

Penny McLaren

Rosey Storey

Malcolm Munt

Alex Nash

Kay McManus

Pamela Usher

Chris Newbery

Susan Norton

Christine Medlow

Anne Whitley

Robin Onslow

Rosalind Milton

Gillian Rix

Mary Moon

Sarah Smithies

Lilly Nicholson

Joan Thomas

Gill Perkins

Hilary Vaill

Linda Ross
Lesley Scordellis

SECOND SOPRANO

Catherine Shacklady

Jacqueline Alderton

Carol Sheppard

Amy Cowan

Ann Smith

Anna Durning

Marjory Stewart

Ginny Heffernan

Jo Stokes

Isobel Humphreys

Hilary Trigg

Krystyna Marsden

Maggie Woolcock

Alison Newbery

June Windle
Elisabeth Yates

FIRST TENOR

Mike Bishop
Bob Bromham

Bob Cowell
Owen Gibbons
Nick Manning
Martin Price
Chris Robinson
John Trigg
SECOND TENOR

Ewan Bramhall

Alison Palmer

SECOND ALTO

Kate Peters

Valerie Adam

Paula Sutton

Geraldine Allen

Valerie Thompson

Evelyn Beastall

Christine Wilks

Sylvia Chantler

Fiona Wimblett

Mary Clayton

Stephen Linton

Andrea Dombrowe

Peter Norman

Sheena Ewen

Arnfinn Overas

Jo Glover

Jon Scott

Margaret Grisewood

John Thornely

Frances Worpe

FIRST ALTO

Barbara Barklem
Grace Beckett
Monika Boothby

Peter Butterworth
Tony Chantler
Simon Dillon
Geoff Johns

Peter Pearce

Chris Peters
Robin Privett

David Ross
Philip Stanford

Kieron Walsh
SECOND BASS

Peter Andrews
Alan Batterbury
Norman Carpenter

Geoffrey Forster
James Garrow

Stuart Gooch
Nick Gough
Eric Kennedy
Neil Martin
Adrian Oxborrow
John Parry
Roger Penny

David Robson
Michael Taylor

Richard Wood
John Yeomans

Liz Hampshire
Barbara Hilder
Vivace Chorus

Vivace Chorus Patrons
The Vivace Chorus is extremely grateful to all patrons
for their support.
Honorary Life Patrons
Mr Bill Bellerby MBE

Dr John Trigg MBE

Mr John Britten

Life Patron
Mrs Joy Hunter MBE

Premier Patrons
Robin & Penny Privett

Platinum Patrons
Mr & Mrs Stephen Arthur

John McLean OBE & Janet MclLean

Mr & Mrs Peter B P Bevan

Ron & Christine Medlow

Richard & Mary Broughton

Mr Lionel Moon

Mr & Mrs G Dombrowe

Dr Roger Muray

Mr & Mrs Joseph Durning

Mr & Mrs John Parry

Celia & Michael Embleton

Idris Thomas

Susan & Cecil Hinton

Mr Tony Thompson

Mrs Carol Hobbs

Mrs Pamela Usher

Mrs Rita Horton

Bill & June Windle

Mr Michael Jeffery

Gold Patrons
Robin & Jill Broadley

Dr Stephen Linton

Roger & Sharon Brockway

Brenda & Brian Reed

Jane Kenney

Sheila Rowell

Mr Geoffrey Johns

Prue & Derek Smith

Silver Patrons
Mrs Iris Bennett

Bob & Maryel Cowell

If you have enjoyed this concert, why not become one of our patrons? We

have a loyal band of followers whose regular presence at our concerts is
greatly appreciated. With the valued help of our patrons, we are able to
perform a wide range of exciting music, with world-class, professional
musicians in venues such as Guildford Cathedral, G Live and the Royal
Albert Hall. Patrons enjoy discounts of between 10% and 30% off concert
tickets, reserved seating and priority booking for the best seats for as little
as £50pa. If you are interested, please contact Joan Thomas on
01483 893178 or email: patrons@vivacechorus.org.
Vivace Chorus

27

Vivace Chorus dates for your diary
All the World's a Stage A Tribute to Shakespeare in Words and Music
Saturday 12th November 2016 7.30pm

G Live, Guildford

To celebrate Shakespeare's 400th birthday, we are delighted to
present an evening of music and drama, in collaboration with the

Guildford

Shakespeare Company. With

works from

Tchaikovsky,

Berlioz, Vaughan Williams and Walton, we move from the romance
of Romeo and Juliet to the tragedy of Hamlet and the battle scenes

of Henry V. Book early for this not-to-be-missed event!

Come and Sing 2017 - Bruckner and Mahler
Saturday 28th January 2017 10.30am

Normandy Village Hall

Come and join Jeremy and the Vivace Chorus for a day of practising
and singing the glorious Bruckner Mass in E Minor and Mahler's 2nd
Symphony. This is always a very popular event where, apart from the
enjoying the music-making, you will have fun making new friends
and enjoying the famed Vivace lunch!

Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem
Monday 1st May 2017 7.30pm

Royal Festival Hall, London

We're delighted to be closing our 70th season with one of the most-

loved works in choral music, the wonderful Brahms Requiem, in a

beautiful programme which includes Elgar's Sea Pictures and the
world

premiere

of

our

latest

commission

-

Cantus

Maris

by

renowned British composer Francis Pott. Join us on the South Bank
for a concert to remember.,

Printed by WORDCRAFT
15 Merrow Woods, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2LJ. Tel : 01483 560735

Vivace Chorus is a Registered Charity No. 1026337

28

Vivace Chorus

Southern Pro Musica

TSP

Music for Guildford

The Four Seasons
Vivaldi
The Four Seasons

Mozart
Eine Kleine Nachtmusic

and works by

Pachelbel, Albinoni,
Boccherini

and CPE Bach
Celebrate summer with

Vivaldi's masterpiece, performed

by the Principal Players of

Southern Pro Musica under their

Leader Sophie Langdon, together

with a lively programme of

classical and baroque favourites.

Principal Players from
=

Southern Pro Musica
Violin/director
R

Sophle Langdon

Holy Trinity Church, Guildford
Saturday July 2nd 2016, 7.30pm
Tickets available now

£20

with £15

In person: Guildford Tourist Information Centre, 155 High Street

Online: www.visitguildford.com

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