Britten - 50th Anniversary Concert
Saturday 14th November 2026 at 5pm in St Matthews Church, Northampton
Saturday 5th December 2026 at 5pm in St Wilfrid's Church, Harrogate 

Marking the 50th Anniversary of the death of Benjamin Britten on 4th December, Harrogate Choral join forces with Northampton Philharmonic Choir to present this wonderful concert in two venues.

The concert in Harrogate will be conducted by Thomas Moore who is both Deputy Music Director of Harrogate Choral and also Music Director of Northampton Philharmonic Choir.  There is an additional connection, Rejoice in the Lamb was commissioned by Walter Hussey, Anglican patron of the arts for his church - St Matthews in Northampton, which is the home church for NPC!  

The centrepiece of the programme is Britten's much-loved Saint Nicolas, a vivid and dramatic cantata telling the story of the legendary fourth-century saint. Combining powerful choruses, lyrical solo passages and moments of audience participation, it is one of the composer's most uplifting and accessible works.  The programme also includes Rejoice in the Lamb, Britten's radiant and imaginative setting of Christopher Smart's extraordinary poetry. Its joyful energy, profound humanity and memorable melodies have made it a favourite of choirs and audiences alike.  Completing the choral offering is the exuberant Jubilate in C, the charming folk-song arrangement Old Abram Brown.
 
The concert will also feature the magnificent organ work Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Vittoria, a dazzling display of colour, virtuosity and craftsmanship, inspired by the sixteenth-century Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria.
 
This concert showcases the breadth of Britten's genius and his unique ability to combine technical brilliance with direct emotional appeal. Performed by two respected choral societies, this promises to be an evening of compelling music-making and a fitting tribute to one of the defining voices of twentieth-century British music.
 
In Northampton we will be conducted by David Lawrence, and the tenor in Saint Nicolas will be Eamonn Walsh.  In Harrogate the tenor will be James Micklethwaite.​​
Tickets are £20 for Adults and £5 for students and under 16s
For tickets for the concert in Northampton please click here
For tickets for the concert in Harrogate please click the button!
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Northern Colours
Saturday 13th March 2027 in St Wilfrid's Church, Harrogate 
A concert including Bob Chilcott's Rainbow and Cecilia McDowall's Songs of the North.

The Rainbow is a vibrant nine-movement work which unites upper- and mixed-voice choirs in a multi-faceted exploration of colour. Bookended by a prologue and epilogue, The Rainbow devotes a movement to each of the rainbow's colours, with each one assigned its own identity and framed as an element of the natural world. A richly scored instrumental accompaniment demonstrates Chilcott's vivid musical palette and helps to characterize each colour. 

Songs of the North sets three texts from ‘Poem of the North’, a poetic collaboration celebrating 50 years of the Northern Poetry Library. The work’s celebration of Northern English writing begins with ‘North’, a flowing and forward-moving movement that reflects the poet’s consideration of north as ‘a progressive direction’. The second movement, ‘Notes made on Hadrian’s Wall’, has a folk-like simplicity and integrates the folk song ‘Waters of Tyne’ into the texture. Additionally, the poem’s references to the Sycamore Gap tree are given greater poignance following its illegal felling in 2023. The final movement, ‘Journey North’, has a rhythmic drive that evokes an exciting train journey through a fast-changing landscape.

with the National Festival Orchestra 
and Duchy College Chamber Choir
​
Conducted by David Lawrence​

​Tickets are £20 for Adults and £5 for students and under 16s

Stars
Saturday 19th June 2027 in St Wilfrid's Church, Harrogate 
A concert featuring many works on the theme of stars 
including
Oliver Tarney - Lux Stellarum
Jonathan Dove - Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars
Cecilia McDowall - Ave Maris Stella
Ēriks Ešenvalds - Stars
Greig - Ave Maris Stella
Alan Bullard - In Such a Night
Jacob Narverud - Ad Astra


with Thomas Moore, Organ 
Conducted by David Lawrence

​Tickets will be on sale shortly​
Other Planned Future Concert Dates

2027-28 season  (venues and times tbc)
Saturday 20th or 27th November  - tbc
Saturday 18th December
Saturday 25th March
Saturday 10th or 17th June  - tbc