with guests Daniel Hutton and Christine Littlewood
In Memory of Katy Penn Directed by Anthony Gray Beati is a small choir of 10 female voices performing choral classics across a range of genres - from the most serious sacred works, through to jazz numbers and folksong arrangements. The concert will be particularly special as the choir will sing in memory of their former member Katy Penn, who died suddenly earlier this year. |
In Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine composer Eric Whitacre and poet Charles Anthony Silvestri aim to conceptualize the sublime thoughts of renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci, an artist but also a visionary whose mind conceived terrible engines of war such as tanks but also flying machines. The work splits into 4 soprano parts, 2 Alto, 2 Tenor and 2 Bass. It is therefore technically very tricky to sing but the choir performed this well. Praise must be given to five in house soloists- Catherine, Mel, Dee, Richard and Daniel - who featured during the performance.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is the best known of his works which were a revolution in musical conception: Vivaldi represented flowing creeks, singing birds (of different species, each specifically characterized), a shepherd and his barking dog, buzzing flies, storms, drunken dancers, hunting parties from both the hunters' and the prey's point of view, frozen landscapes, and warm winter fires. Violinist Sara Trickey was spellbinding in her performance and was superbly accompanied by the National Festival Orchestra. The final work Cecila McDowall’s Da Vinci Requiem resents an imaginative pairing of extracts from the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci with texts from the Latin Missa pro defunctis. Soloists Eleonore Cockerham, Soprano and Gareth Brynmor John, Baritone were well cast for their parts and both sang magnificently both with the choir and on their own. This has been a challenging work for Harrogate Choral to learn in a relatively short time but the performance was excellent. Made all the more so by the presence of the composer who gave a pre concert talk, hosted by Anthony Gray, to explain her motivations for her composition. The audience was relatively small but enourmously appreciative and comments received include the following:- "Jolly lovely to go to Harrogate Choral Society yesterday mainly to hear Cecilia’s Da Vinci Requiem which is, quite frankly brilliant, and HCS did it proud with stellar soloists in Eleonore Cockerham and Gareth Brynmor John. Also seem to be developing a new love for The Four Seasons in my 40s … thankful to Sara Trickey for that treat, and David Lawrence of course". "it was magnificent" |
We held a workshop rehearsal with Bob Chilcott, the internationally renowned choral composer, described by The Observer as ‘a contemporary hero of British choral music’. Circlesong has been a revelation to our choir. It is a beautiful and moving work which has entranced HCS in our initial rehearsals. I’m paraphrasing below the description that appears on our music copies. |
A heart-warmingly enthusiastic and participative full house celebrated a truly civic event. There can be
few communities which can stage a production such as Harrogate put on last night. Performers, that is to say orchestra, choir and schools, numbered the best part of 500, before an audience of some 1500. The packed arena was awash with light and colour. And of course with music. |
Harrogate Choral Society had a fallow period, due to Covid 19, as did all other such societies. Their first concert since lockdown 2020 was on 13th November 2021 in the Royal Hall with their new conductor, David Lawrence, performing a programme that had been planned before his appointment, containing works by Elgar and the Brahms Requiem. Tonight’s concert in St. Wilfrids Church, entitled “Voices, Organ & Brass” was very much a joyful, celebratory programme. A fitting celebration by Harrogate Choral Society of the first concert wholly prepared by their new conductor! David Lawrence comes with the highest qualifications and experience of choral work that any Society could wish for, both nationally and internationally.
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Messiah
Saturday 11 December 2021 Royal Hall, Harrogate How wonderful it was to be back in the Royal Hall, with a near capacity audience, listening live to the wonderful music of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ performed by the Harrogate Choral Society, soloists, and Manchester Camarata all guided by the chorus’s President, Brian Kay.
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Brahms and Elgar
Saturday 13 November 2021 Royal Hall, Harrogate Two musical giants of their time brought Harrogate Choral Society back to the stage after their long-enforced absence, with a first appearance of their new Music Director / Conductor David Lawrence and accompanied by the brothers Thomas and Stephen Moore on two pianos.
First up were two anthems by Elgar – the gentle Ave Verum and the more robust and varied Give unto the Lord. They were well executed by the choir with admirable attention to detail and responsiveness to Elgar’s trademark demands for dynamic flexibility. |
This event was an excellent start to 2020 where a good number of potential tenors and basses spent a fun morning singing with some of our members. The music covered popular songs and choruses from across a wide range of repertoire under the humorous and inspirational guidance of our Music Director Andrew Padmore.
This resulted in some new members - if you missed this event it is never too late to join - just get in contact using our website contact form at any time. |
Saturday 14th December 2019
Harrogate Convention Centre |
The 2019 concert is the 20th year in the Convention Centre for this fantastic family event.
For more information please read the history of the concert |
I Was Glad
15th November 2018 Royal Hall , Harrogate "Launching the appeal to floodlight the Royal Hall and Cenotaph" |