News
Full House for Christmas Concert
Once again St John's Church was packed to capacity for Hurst Green Singers' Christmas Concert. Charpentier's "Messe de Minuit pour Noel" was followed by the orchestra playing Corelli's "Christmas Concerto", before Buxtehude's "Das Neugeborne Kindelein" brought the first part of the evening to a close. The second half was mainly for carols for choir and audience, but included Faure's "Cantique de Jean Racine". The choir sang their unacompanied carols with feeling, while the audience joined in heartily as expected. Michael Barlow, the Choir's long-standing Director of Music, conducted. The soloists were Elizabeth Skinner and Louisa Worssam (soprano), Louise Whitson (alto), Matthew Howard (tenor) and Daniel Eaton (bass. The Organist was Jeremy Lloyd. Wine and mincepies were served after the concert, making a festive end to the evening.
Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Hurst Green Singers Golden Jubillee
25 years ago a special service was held to celebrate Hurst Green Singers' 25th year. Now, to celebrate its Golden Jubilee year, another Service of Thanksgiving was arranged, led by the Choir's President, the Revd Professor Mary Seller, and attended by several founder members. A particularly warm welcome was given to the Rt Revd John Bickersteth, on whose initiative the Choir was first formed. The Choir sang Stanford's "Jubilate in B", Parry's "I was glad" and a Gaelic blessing. Hymns included "Angel voices ever singing". There were readings by Terry Marnell and Barbara Richards. And Mary Seller drew from her research into the Choir's archives for memories of those early years and later. Altogther it was a thoroughly uplifting and musical occasion.
Hurst Green Singers' Summer Concert a triumph
Demand for tickets to Hurst Green Singers' Summer Concert exceeded all expectations; St John's Church was packed so that extra chairs had to be brought in. As usual for their summer concert the choir was joined by Shoreham Singers. The theme was War and Peace. "The most moving thing I've ever sung in", said one experienced choir member in response to Karl Jenkins' "The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace" and the audience clearly shared this opinion. “The sound of the Last Post, with choir and audience in total silence, following the wailing of those dying in battle, brought tears to the eyes”, said one. The Choir all wore poppies and there was a collection at the door for the British Legion. Tippett's Spirituals, Parts of Haydn's Nelson Mass and Butterworth's Songs from a Shropshire Lad completed the programme. The four soloists Elizabeth Skinner (soprano), Bryony Mycroft (alto), Matthew Howard (tenor) and Daniel Eaton (bass) all sung with conviction, with Elizabeth Skinner’s powerful soprano rising ethereally over the chorus in the spirituals.
Hurst Green Singers Year of Celebration
2010 is special for Hurst Green Singers. Last Saturday, the Choir celebrated Michael Barlow’s 25 years as their Musical Director. They did so in fine style, performing John Rutter’s sublime Requiem, followed by Beethoven’s exhilarating Mass in C. As usual for their summer concert, the Choir was joined by Shoreham Singers and accompanied by the Hurst Green Sinfonia. Soloists Elizabeth Skinner (soprano), Bryony Mycroft (contralto) and Daniel Eaton (bass), all of whom have sung with the Choir before, were joined on this occasion by tenor Julian Forbes.
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