Addison Singers Choirs Combine for Spring Concert 'Spring Mortals'
Spanish theme in programme ahead of trip to Andalucia
The Addison Oratorio and Chamber Choirs in concert
March 3, 2024
The Addison Singers Classical Choirs are coming together for a spring concert ‘Sing, Mortals!’
The programme will encompass a wide range of repertoire dedicated to the making and performing of music including some Spanish choral pieces. In May, they will take this programme to Seville, Andalucia, where they look forward to performing this repertory to local audiences.
The evening will open with a command to ‘Sing, Mortals!’ by Arthur Bliss.
Conductor Matthew Thomas Morgan says, “Bliss’s music has a unique harmonic pallet, synonymous with mid twentieth century English styles. It is a challenging, rousing opening to our concert programme. Our attention then turns to celebrating the Patron Saint of Music and Musicians, St. Cecilia, the first of which is by Charles Giffen, an American, who amongst other interests is a mathematician and early music editor. We contrast this later in our programme with the more famous setting by Herbert Howells. The Chamber Choir provide an interlude of Spanish works between these settings, presenting two Marian works by Morales (born in Seville), and a short but ravishingly beautiful setting of ‘Ave Maria’ by Rodrigo.”
After the interval, the Oratorio Choir will perform two well-loved works. Haydn’s ‘Te Deum in C’ was composed for Empress Marie Therese, the wife of Franz I of Austria. They were well known to each other with Haydn having accompanied Marie Therese, who, by all accounts, had a good singing voice. The composition is in a tripartite form, with a short, slow middle section. Schubert’s ‘Mass in G’ (Mass No. 2) is notable for its brevity of composition (and its brevity in performance length), taking less than one week in the compositional stage and around twenty-two minutes to perform. Originally scored for strings and organ, it later received further orchestration with additional brass and timpani courtesy of Schubert’s brother, Ferdinand, due to its popularity upon publication after the composer’s death. Soloists from within the choir will be performing, showcasing the depth of talent within the Addison Singers.
The concert will be performed from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Saturday 16 March at St Peter’s Church on Southfield Road (W4 1BB).
Tickets in advance cost £18 or £3 for under 16s or £20 and £5 respectively on the door.
New members are always welcome to join the Addison Group of Singers, which is made up of three different singing classes and four different choirs for singers of all ages, abilities and musical interests. It was founded more than 30 years ago with David Wordsworth as its Musical Director since 1995. Matthew Thomas Morgan - newly appointed Music Director, Classical – took up his post at the beginning of 2023 to conduct the Chamber Choir and Oratorio Choir.
The Addison Singers comprises two classical choirs – an auditioned Chamber Choir and larger non-auditioned Oratorio Choir; and two jazz choirs – an auditioned Jazz Ensemble and a larger non-auditioned all-female Jazz Choir. It also offers three different singing classes to meet the needs of beginners, intermediate and the more competent, experienced singer.
If you are interested in joining the Addison Singers visit the choirs' website.
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