The Exeter Daily - Exeter Philharmonic Choir

Choir honoured to receive Lord Mayor’s Commendation Award

Sharon Goble — Wed, 15 May 2024 05:57:39 +0000

Exeter Philharmonic Choir is among only a handful of organisations in the city to have received a special Commendation Award from the Lord Mayor.

Two representatives of the Choir, Vicki Henderson and Geoff Poad, attended a reception at the Guildhall on Friday 10th May to receive the Award from the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Kevin Mitchell, for the Choir’s services to vocal music and cultural life in the City of Exeter.

The Lord Mayor awards his own Commendations once a year to people or organisations who have gone above and beyond for the City. Presenting the award, Cllr. Mitchell said of the Choir, “Your performances are absolutely stunning, absolutely professional and Ian (the Lord Mayor’s Consort and husband) and I have very much enjoyed every single event that we have come along to, particularly the ones in the Cathedral, with the acoustics – it’s mind-blowing!”

He added, “Exeter Philharmonic Choir has been around for many, many years and, in my opinion, you haven’t always had the recognition that you deserve, hence why we are giving you this Commendation tonight. We very much look forward to coming along to your future events, and even when the Mayoral year finishes, we will be attending your events in the future, because we enjoy them so much. Thank you very much for all you do for culture in our City.”

Accepting the award on behalf of Exeter Philharmonic Choir, Executive Secretary Vicki Henderson said, “We are very honoured to receive this Commendation from the Lord Mayor in recognition of what we contribute to the vibrant cultural life of Exeter. We are Exeter’s oldest choral organisation and have performed in the city every year since 1847, always with professional orchestras and soloists to maintain high-quality performances for our audiences. It’s wonderful to hear that the Lord Mayor and his Consort enjoy our performances so much!”

An Evening at the Opera with Exeter Philharmonic Choir and soloists

Sharon Goble — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 17:05:59 +0000

Exeter Philharmonic Choir with tenor Rhys Batt and soprano Camilla Harris serves up a feast of much-loved arias and choruses from operas spanning four centuries, including Puccini’s La bohème, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Bizet’s Carmen and Verdi’s La traviata.

Well-known Exeter musicians Stephen Tanner and Andrew Downton will accompany the singers on piano.

The season finale at St. David’s Church in Exeter will be a comparatively intimate affair with just 200 tickets available.

The £25 ticket price includes interval drinks and canape.

Tickets available at www.exeterphilharmonic.org.uk

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Event Date

Saturday, May 18, 2024 - 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Venue

St. David’s Church, Exeter

Choir’s season finale - an intimate ‘Evening at the Opera’

Sharon Goble — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:49:20 +0000

Exeter Philharmonic Choir has a special ‘Evening at the Opera” planned to conclude its 2023/24 season on a high. On the evening of 18th May, the Choir - accompanied by two rising stars of the professional opera world - will transport concert goers to the opera houses of Europe for a sparkling evening of arias, duets and choruses.

The season finale at St. David’s Church in Exeter will be a comparatively intimate affair with just 200 tickets available. The £25 ticket price includes interval drinks and canapes.

EPC’s Director of Music Howard Ionascu says: “We will be serving up a wonderful feast of music spanning four centuries, including much-loved arias and choruses from Puccini’s La bohème, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Bizet’s Carmen and Verdi’s La traviata. We are delighted to be joined by soprano Camilla Harris and tenor Rhys Batt, who have strong associations with Garsington Opera and English National Opera. They will be sure to bring to life the heightened emotions of Monteverdi’s Orfeo, Purcell’s Dido, Mozart’s Countess Almaviva and Puccini’s Rodolfo.”

Well-known Exeter musicians Stephen Tanner and Andrew Downton will accompany the singers on piano.

So far, the Choir’s 2023/24 season has been a resounding success with four sell-out concerts in Exeter Cathedral. With seating for just 200, opera lovers are urged to book early to avoid disappointment.

British soprano Camilla Harris is fast establishing herself as an exciting new interpreter of classical and 20th Century repertoire. A former Salisbury Cathedral Girl Chorister, Camilla is a Britten Pears Young Artist and a multiple-award winner.

Camilla says, “I am very much looking forward to performing with Howard Ionascu and Exeter Philharmonic Choir for the first time. It’s always a joy to perform such a varied programme of opera with a talented group of musicians. It will be particularly fun to reunite on the concert stage with Rhys Batt who was a contemporary of mine at Royal College of Music.”

www.exeterphilharmonic.org.uk

Acclaimed choir and orchestra promise a night of high drama at Exeter Cathedral

Sharon Goble — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 06:51:07 +0000

Concert-goers are in for a night of high drama at Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 16th March when Exeter Philharmonic Choir joins forces with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and four world-class soloists to perform Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem.

Verdi’s choral ‘blockbuster’, also known as the Requiem Mass, is an opera in all but name and is one of the most dramatic large-scale choral works in the classical repertoire; any performance is a grand occasion.

First performed in 1874, the Requiem is a musical setting of the Catholic Funeral Mass. It was composed as a memorial to one of Verdi’s heroes - Italian poet, playwright and novelist Alessandro Manzoni, who died in 1873. Verdi conducted the premiere in Milan, to rapturous applause, on the first anniversary of Manzoni’s death.

Howard Ionascu, Musical Director of the Exeter Philharmonic Choir, says,

“The Verdi Requiem has it all – moments of exquisite beauty, as the soloists weave their vocal lines, contrasting with the power and drama of the chorus and orchestra. With well over 200 performers in the Cathedral, including the four world-class soloists, the magnificent Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the 120 voices of the Exeter Philharmonic Choir, the audience can expect a truly memorable performance of this choral masterpiece.

“The moment in the final movement as the soprano floats over the unaccompanied choir, pleading for peace, is one of my absolute favourites of any choral music…it’s as if time stands still.”

It’s fitting that the Requiem is being performed in the Cathedral because its premiere 150 years ago took place in a church. However, it was composed as a public tribute to Manzoni rather than an overtly ecclesiastical work.

‘Libera Me’, the seventh and final movement, was originally written as part of an intended collaboration with several Italian composers in honour of Rossini. That project came to nothing, and the stirring piece remained unperformed until Verdi included it in the Manzoni tribute.

Exeter Philharmonic Choir is delighted to be performing alongside the renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and four experienced and talented soloists - Judith Howarth (soprano), Marta Fontanals-Simmons (mezzo-soprano), Oliver Johnston (tenor) and Tristan Hambleton (bass) - whose singing will draw out the intense beauty of The Requiem.

BSO Chief Executive Dougie Scarfe says, “We can’t wait to return to Exeter Cathedral to perform Verdi’s Requiem with Exeter Philharmonic Choir this March. Experiencing this magnificent work in the setting of Exeter’s iconic Cathedral will surely be a night to remember.”

Solo soprano Judith Howarth says: “It is always an honour to sing this particular work, and I have performed it many times around the world. I relish the vocal challenges of the piece, and it never fails to move and inspire me. I am so looking forward to performing it in Exeter Cathedral.”

Mezzo-soprano Marta Fontanals-Simmons says: “I’m so pleased to be singing with Howard and Exeter Philharmonic Choir again. I look forward to bringing this sumptuous alto part and incredible score to the Cathedral this Spring.”

The Lord Mayor of Exeter will attend this special concert, and there will be a leaving collection in support of his chosen local charity, FORCE.

The concert follows EPC’s two sell-out Christmas carol concerts at the cathedral in December and a packed Music of the Baroque performance in November.

Tickets are on sale now: www.exeterphilharmonic.org.uk

Verdi's Requiem

Sharon Goble — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 12:45:55 +0000

Concert-goers are promised a night of high drama as the acclaimed Exeter Philharmonic Choir joins forces with the renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and four world-class soloists to perform Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem.

The singing of four talented soloists - Judith Howarth (soprano), Marta Fontanals-Simmons (mezzo-soprano), Oliver Johnston (tenor) and Tristan Hambleton (bass) - will draw out the intense beauty of The Requiem.

Tickets: £30, £23, £15

Buy online www.exeterphilharmonic.org.uk

or by phone 0798916117

Email: tickets@exeterphilharmonic.org.uk

A group discount of 10% is available for 10 or more tickets bought together.

Discounts: for children 18 years and under, students presenting a valid student ID, and those receiving Job Seekers’ Allowance, Income support or Universal Credit.

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Event Date

Saturday, March 16, 2024 - 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Venue

Exeter Cathedral

Exeter Philharmonic Choir's Carols in the Cathedral

Sharon Goble — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 23:08:07 +0000

Exeter Philharmonic Choir will bring Christmas cheer to audiences at Exeter Cathedral over two nights this December with carols both traditional and contemporary. Devon harpist Elizabeth-Jane Baldry will compere the concerts on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 December and is sure to charm the audience with entertaining musical anecdotes as she guides them through the Choir’s programme.

A solo trumpet and the impressive sound of the cathedral organ will accompany the Choir’s 100-plus voices. Audience members will be invited to join the Choir in familiar festive songs. For those who want to make a night of it, a Supper Club will meet on Tuesday, 12 December, for a two-course, pre-concert meal at the Mercure Southgate Hotel, a short walk from Exeter Cathedral.

The concert promises to be a special prelude to the festive season. EPC is supporting Refugee Support Devon with its retiring collection on both nights.

Tickets £22, £16, £12 Supper Club £59.

www.exeterphilharmonic.org.uk

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Event Date

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 - 7:30pm to Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - 7:30pm

Venue

Exeter Cathedral, Exeter EX1 1HS

The Exeter Daily - Exeter Philharmonic Choir

Choir honoured to receive Lord Mayor’s Commendation Award

An Evening at the Opera with Exeter Philharmonic Choir and soloists

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Choir’s season finale - an intimate ‘Evening at the Opera’

Acclaimed choir and orchestra promise a night of high drama at Exeter Cathedral

Verdi's Requiem

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir's Carols in the Cathedral

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