All welcome to rehearsals - 7.30pm, Christ's Church, Harrogate
07711 945929
Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem
Elgar - Enigma Variations (arranged for two pianos),
Give unto the Lord & Ave Verum
Saturday 13th November 2021, 7.00 pm
Royal Hall, Harrogate
Johannes Brahms was not a religious man. In fact, he freely admitted to his biographer that he did not necessarily believe in the concept of life after death. The combination of these facts seems paradoxical for composing a Requiem, defined as a Mass for the dead. But Brahms was a man full of contradictions, so for his Requiem, he redefined the genre and instead of creating a Mass for the dead, created one for the mourners left behind on Earth, and in so doing, created something extraordinary. He often stated that he could replace the word “German” with “Human” and be left with a more accurate title for his ground breaking work. For this performance Harrogate Choral will be accompanied by two pianos
More than a decade after the Enigma Variations were composed, Elgar reflectively stated in 1911 that the variations started “in a spirit of humour, and continued in deep seriousness.” The story goes that after a long, grueling day of teaching, Elgar returned home and sat at his piano and began improvising a melody. His wife Alice was struck by the tune and as the evening continued he began improvising variations to go with the melody. In his exhaustion and playfulness with Alice he began including characteristics of several of his friends and colleagues in the variations. The arrangment for two pianos adds an extra twist!
Give unto the Lord and Ave Verum are two lovely choral works which round the concert off nicely.
More than a decade after the Enigma Variations were composed, Elgar reflectively stated in 1911 that the variations started “in a spirit of humour, and continued in deep seriousness.” The story goes that after a long, grueling day of teaching, Elgar returned home and sat at his piano and began improvising a melody. His wife Alice was struck by the tune and as the evening continued he began improvising variations to go with the melody. In his exhaustion and playfulness with Alice he began including characteristics of several of his friends and colleagues in the variations. The arrangment for two pianos adds an extra twist!
Give unto the Lord and Ave Verum are two lovely choral works which round the concert off nicely.
Handel - Messiah
Saturday 11 December 2021 at 7.00 pm
There are many works of classical music that are known to the general public. The Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah is possibly one of the most famous pieces of music ever written, even though it comprises only a small section of the complete work.
Messiah is known as one of the greatest musical works ever produced and it wouldn’t be Christmas without the opportunity to hear this great Oratorio – a form of music that contains dramatic lyrics like an opera, but which is staged as a concert without sets or acting.
Messiah is known as one of the greatest musical works ever produced and it wouldn’t be Christmas without the opportunity to hear this great Oratorio – a form of music that contains dramatic lyrics like an opera, but which is staged as a concert without sets or acting.
Other Planned Future Concerts
Saturday 19 March 2022 - Rossini Stabat Mater & Puccini Messa di Gloria
Saturday 11 June 2022 - tbc
Saturday 25 June 2022 - The Harrogate Prom in partnership with Harrogate Symphony Orchestra, raising funds for the Harrogate Hospital Charity
Saturday 19 March 2022 - Rossini Stabat Mater & Puccini Messa di Gloria
Saturday 11 June 2022 - tbc
Saturday 25 June 2022 - The Harrogate Prom in partnership with Harrogate Symphony Orchestra, raising funds for the Harrogate Hospital Charity