CONCERTS2018/19

Welcome to our 2018/19 seasonA very warm welcome to The Bach Choir’s 143rd season of concerts, which begins with two performances marking the centenary of the end of WWI. First is Britten’s War Requiem on 3 October – a very special work for The Bach Choir, which sang on the original recording with Britten conducting – still the seminal recording today. In the spirit of unity that characterised the premiere in 1962, we are performing with boys from the Staats- und Domchor Berlin, and the German baritone Benjamin Appl. A month later, on 8 November, we present Remembrance and Freedom, a concert of music and readings in aid of the Royal British Legion.

Looking further ahead we have carols and Christmas music, our annual Bach St Matthew Passion and Beethoven’s mighty Missa Solemnis – music which is dear to my heart and which I hope very much will appeal to you.

David Hill Musical Director of The Bach Choir

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War Requiem

War RequiemWed 3 Oct 2018, 7.30pm

Westminster Cathedral

Britten War Requiem

War and the pity of war

Britten’s War Requiem with reflections on contemporary conflict and new responses to Wilfred Owen’s poetry read by celebrity actors and journalists.

Composed in 1961 for the consecration of the newly-rebuilt Coventry Cathedral, the War Requiem combines the Latin requiem mass with texts by the First World War poet Wilfred Owen, who was killed in action aged just 25.

Tickets £12–£50Bookings > Back cover

The Bach Choir Philharmonia Orchestra Staats- und Domchor Berlin Choristers of Westminster Cathedral

David Hill conductor Sally Matthews soprano Andrew Staples tenor Benjamin Appl baritone Philip Scriven organ

Raymond Gubbay presents

The PlanetsSun 7 Oct 2018, 3pm

Royal Albert Hall

Verdi The Force of Destiny Overture Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 Holst The Planets

The Bach Choir Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Damian Iorio conductor Joseph Moog piano

Holst’s evocative and powerful planetary masterwork crowns an evening of sublime music.

Tickets £24–£58.75Book 020 7589 8212 | royalalberthall.com

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Andrew Staples: War Requiem

Remembrance and Freedom

Giselle Allen: Remembrance and Freedom

Remembrance and FreedomThu 8 Nov 2018, 7.30pmRoyal Festival Hall

Elgar The Spirit of England Elgar, arr David Hill Requiem Aeternam (Enigma Variations/Nimrod) Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region Barber Agnus Dei Parry Blest Pair of Sirens

The Bach Choir Philharmonia Orchestra David Hill conductor Giselle Allen soprano Celebrity speakers

To the end, to the end, they remain

The Bach Choir joins forces with The Royal British Legion in a tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives in the First World War – with all proceeds going to the Legion.

The choir, joined by the Philharmonia Orchestra, performs works with readings given by celebrity guests.

Tickets £12–£65Bookings > Back cover

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In support of

Royal British Legion Christmas Celebration

Carols at Cadogan

Royal British Legion Christmas CelebrationWed 12 & Thu 13 Dec 2018, 7pmThe Guildhall, London

The Bach Choir The Central Band of The Royal British Legion David Hill conductor

A spectacular celebration of Christmas

Christmas music and carols for all led by The Bach Choir, the Legion’s own Central Band, and soloists, with seasonal readings from celebrity guests.

Tickets £40 or £210£40: concert (including wine and soft drinks) £210: concert & champagne reception & post-concert black tie dinner (Thu 13th only) Book 020 3207 2272 rpride@britishlegion.org.uk

Carols at CadoganWed 19 Dec 2018, 7.30pmCadogan Hall

The Bach Choir London City Brass David Hill conductor Philip Scriven organ Nigel Bates & Matthew Green percussion

A perfect evening of Christmas music

Join The Bach Choir, London City Brass and Philip Scriven for an evening of Christmas music and carols for all, featuring the winning entry in the Sir David Willcocks Carol Competition.

Tickets £13.50–£32Bookings > Back cover

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“I am delighted to be working with Trustees, and our Development Board on plans to expand our annual season programme, to enrich further The Bach Choir’s distinctive audience and supporter experience. Please look out for announcements later this year.”

The Bach Choir – advancing the British choral tradition

David Hill Musical Director of The Bach Choir

St Matthew Passion

Come & Sing Will Todd: Lights, Stories, Noise, Dreams, Love, and Noodles

Sarah Fox: Missa SolemnisJames Gilchrist: St Matthew Passion

Missa Solemnis

Missa SolemnisFri 28 Jun 2019, 7.30pmRoyal Festival Hall

Beethoven Mass in D (Missa solemnis)

Lights, Stories, Noise, Dreams, Love, and NoodlesFri 14 Jun 2019, 6.30pmCadogan Hall

Todd Lights, Stories, Noise, Dreams, Love, and Noodles

The Bach Choir David Hill conductor

The Bach Choir Outreach Concert

Commissioned by The Bach Choir, Will Todd’s song cycle is an energetic tour de force about our great capital city – the bright lights, the contrast between old and new, the vibrancy and changing landscapes, the romance and cosmopolitan diversity. It features text written by acclaimed novelist and poet Michael Rosen.

Tickets Adults £10 Students £5 Children £3 Family (max 2 parents and 2 children) £15Bookings > Back cover

St Matthew PassionSun 7 Apr 2019, 11amRoyal Festival Hall

Bach St Matthew Passion

“Even those who know the St Matthew Passion well never cease to find new marvels within it.” Claudia Pritchard, Culture Whisper

We are delighted to welcome back James Gilchrist as the Evangelist for our 2019 performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion sung complete, in English.

The performance includes a long lunch interval between Parts I and II. Part II begins at 2.15pm.

Tickets £12–£55Bookings > Back cover

“From the heart – may it return to the heart”

Beethoven’s mighty setting of the Mass is one of the grandest and greatest choral works ever composed, taking listeners on a profound spiritual journey through turbulent doubt to ultimate redemption.

Tickets £10–£52 Bookings > Back cover

Come & Sing: The Dream of GerontiusSat 8 Jun 2019, 10.30amHinde Street Methodist Church

New location, same fantastic Come & Sing day!

Join David Hill, one of the country’s leading conductors and choir trainers, and members of The Bach Choir for a choral training day to rehearse and perform choruses from Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius.

Tickets £20 (Students £5) Audience £550% discount for The Bach Choir FriendsBookings > Back cover

The Bach Choir Florilegium David Hill conductor James Gilchrist Evangelist Mark Stone Christ

Sophie Bevan soprano Hilary Summers mezzo-soprano Ed Lyon tenor Neal Davies baritone

The Bach Choir Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment David Hill conductor Sarah Fox soprano

Catherine Wyn-Rogers mezzo-soprano Toby Spence tenor Roderick Williams baritone

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TicketsAll tickets for concerts promoted by The Bach Choir are available from: thebachchoir.org.uk or The Bach Choir Ticket Office on 020 7127 9114.

Tickets for Royal Festival Hall concerts can also be booked via Southbank Centre on 020 3879 9555.

Group ticket offerGet a 20% discount when you book ten or more tickets.

To book group tickets for Royal Festival Hall concerts please call Southbank Centre on 020 7960 4225.

To book group tickets for Carols at Cadogan please call The Bach Choir Ticket Office on 020 7127 9114.

Student tickets£5 for all concerts at the Royal Festival Hall and our Come & Sing days.

Concert details are subject to change.

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