The Spring 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 The RNCM BaroqueEnsemble,Manchester Camerata,Concordia,William Byrd Singers,Passacaglia, and Ellisabeth Wallfisch

Saturday 20th March 2010, 7.30 pm

Monteverdi 'Vespers'

The Monastery, Gorton, Manchester

St George's Singers, conductor Neil Taylor Chetham's Baroque Orchestra

Soloists: Clare Lloyd, Amy Wood (soprano) Peter Davoren, Richard Dowling (tenor) Marcus Farnsworth, Johnny Herford (baritone)

Tickets: £16, £12 concessions, £2 students/children

From: Tel 01663 764012, email tickets@st-georges-singers.org.uk, online www.st-georges-singers.org.uk

Holy Days with William Byrd

As part of the festivities to mark the centenary of worship in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral the Renaissance Music Group’s next recital there will draw upon the splendour of William Byrd’s music for certain Holy Days and Seasons in the church year. It is fitting to link Byrd with these celebrations because the modern edition of his works was dedicated for use by ’the Cathedral Church in Liverpool‘. The Lady Chapel was first used for worship on the Feast of Peter and Paul in 1909 and Byrd’s motets for that Holy Day will be included together with those for Easter, Whitsun and All Saints Day. The Group will be joined by the Chester Viols performing works for Byrd’s favorite instrument and the programme will be framed within motets by two earlier Tudor composers.

Liverpool Cathedral Lady Chapel, Sunday 28th March 2010, 8pm

£8, concessions £5, from the Cathedral Shop, (0151 702 7255, www.cathedralshop.com), from 08 Place Tourist Information 36 Whitechapel, Liverpool, (0151-233 2459), The Bluecoat, off Church Street (0151-702 5324) and at the door.

Andreas Scholl, countertenor

The Shield of Harmony Ensemble

Wednesday 21 April 2010 7:30 pm

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Oswald: A music theatre piece inspired by the Austrian poet, composer, and traveller Oswald von Wolkenstein (1377 – 1445)

The greatest countertenor of the 21st century salutes one of the most extraordinary artists of the middle ages. Composer, poet, warrior, diplomat, traveller, lover... Oswald von Wolkenstein was a renaissance man before his time!
Following the release of his acclaimed recent recording of Oswald's music, and as part of a Europe-wide tour, Andreas Scholl and the early-music group The Shield of Harmony have devised this astonishing night of theatre, using images, drama and of course music to take us into Oswald's world – and bring his world vividly into ours.

‘Scholl's voice rushes through the bloodstream, so tender and gravely beautiful that time seems to stand still.’
The Times

Tickets £20, £25

More information at:

http://www.liverpoolphil.com/486/events-classical-music/andreas-scholl-countertenor.html

Saturday 27th March 2010

Bach St. Matthew Passion

Shrewsbury Abbey. Full information and printable flier here

Chester Bach Singers From Darkness to Light: Saturday 27th March 2010 7.30 pm St Werburgh Street Church, Chester

Music for Holy Week by Lotti, Monteverdi, Gibbons, Palestrina and Byrd complemented by works by Poulenc and Finzi Tickets £11 (concessions available) 0151 677 3137, www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk Chester Tourist Information Centre: 01244 402111