Wimbledon Choral Society – Music of the Stars – 7:30pm
This concert draws from the rich talent of English composers, two of whom are Wimbledon Choral favourites - Cecilia McDowall and Michael Higgins. McDowall's Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea) was the first work of hers published by OUP. Its seven short sections merge into a single powerful wave with elements of peace and tranquility mixed in with a turbulent yet joyful mid-section. Music of the Stars was published in 2023 and the text used demonstrates the power of music as a means of consoling and uplifting in challenging times. In the two YouYube clips below, the composer explains her approach to these two works. At the time writing, it is believed ours will be the UK concert performance premiere of this work in its original orchestration.
Ralph Vaughan Williams (President WCS 1946-1958) often used English folk songs as the source and inspiration for some of his works. He adapted the old song Dives and Lazarus to become the hymn tune known as Kingsfold, named after the village located a few miles south of where he lived in Leith Hill, West Sussex. The text associated with the tune is usually I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say and the choir will sing this prior to the players performing the composer’s Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus.
The concert opens with Elgar’s delightful Serenade for Strings and, towards the end, includes Michael Higgins’ beautiful O Salutaris Hostia, his arrangement of Elgar’s Nimrod (from the Enigma Variations).
Concert Programme
Elgar : Serenade for Strings
McDowall : Ave Maris Stella
Vaughan Williams : I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say [hymn Kingsfold]
Vaughan Williams : Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus [same theme as Kingsfold]
Higgins : O Salutaris Hostia
McDowall : Music of the Stars (UK premiere)
We are delighted to be working with members of the City of London Sinfonia again in this concert.
Upcoming Events
Hope for a Cure – Carol Concert – Alzheimer’s Research UK – 6pm
Hope For A Cure Carol Concert
Please join us and our wonderful sponsors and guests as we hold on to memories at this special time of year. An evening full of hope and inspiration with traditional carols, celebrity readings from Alzheimer's Research UK Ambassador Scott Mitchell, Dame Mary Berry DBE, Angela Rippon CBE, Baroness Benjamin OM, DBE, DL and beautiful music from the London Youth Chamber Choir. Together we can make a difference and work towards finding a cure. Please support us in raising awareness for this important cause.
Place2Be Carol Concert
Join us for Place2Be’s acclaimed annual Carol Concert - the charity’s largest and longest-running fundraising event. The concert will take place on Thursday 5 December 2024 at Holy Trinity Church - Sloane Square, in the heart of Chelsea. Doors will open at 6pm.
Past performances include: Keira Knightley, Damian Lewis, Paloma Faith, Jamie Cullum, and Place2Be ambassador Laura Wright. Most importantly, attendees are able to hear from the extraordinary communities Place2Be supports, including a performance from a Place2Be partner school. This year's line-up will be announced very soon!
As ever, the evening promises to be a truly magical event full of festive fun, fizz, mulled wine and mince pies
Medic Choir – A celebration of St. Nicholas – 7.30pm
Britten Saint Nicholas
Haydn Missa Sancti Nicolai
Performed by Medici Choir
Conducted by David Gostick