The Autumn brochure of concerts from the Royal Northern College of Music is now out. To obtain a copy contact RNCM at 0161 907 5555 www.rncm.ac.uk

Concerts for the coming season of interest include ones given by College students of Apollo and Daphne by Handel Bach Cantata 51,. Respectable groove give a performance based around the music of Lully. In March 2012 the college is mounting a performance of Xerxes by Handel

Chester Bach Singers
Saturday 31 March 2012 7.30 pm
Chester Cathedral
Bach St John Passion
with
Eighteenth Century Sinfonia
Conductor: Martin Bussey
Tickets: £18, £12 & £6 (concessions available)
from 0845 241 7868
or www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk
PHONE = 0151 677 3137

 

Early Music in South Cumbria. There seems to be much early music activity in the south of our region, concerts and workshops, and perhaps this is the time to draw attention to two more northerly early music concerts by the Pro Nobis Singers coming up in the next few months; both are in the Kendal area and both feature music which may be of interest to NWEMF members.

 

On Sunday 1 April in St Mark's Church, Natland, Kendal we are performing Domenico Scarlatti's lovely Stabat mater setting. Completing the programme will be motets by Gesualdo, Gombert, Padilla and Tallis, a performance of Adrian Self's The Seven last words of Christ from the Cross and three of Haydn's Seven last words op.51 (1787) in the string quartet version. If you don't know Adrian Self's work, his setting of Christ's last words is a good introduction. It is a deeply felt, highly expressive work for unaccompanied chamber choir, and very rewarding to sing. Adrian is the organist of Cartmel Priory, a prolific composer of church music and a music publisher (animus).

 

On Saturday 16 June in St Thomas's Church, Kendal, we have engaged the professional cornett and sackbut ensemble, QuintEssential, for a programme entitled Music from the Golden Age of Spain and the New World. The programme includes Padilla's Missa Ego flo campi and motets by Esquivel, Guerrero and Padilla. Full details of these events can be found on our website; www.pronobis-singers.com We look forward to welcoming NWEMF members at these events.