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2021/22 SEASON

SPRING SUMMER

Y E A R S ‘PURE PLEASURE’ THE GUARDIAN THE TIMES

THE INDEPENDENT

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

THE TELEGRAPH

I N S P I R I N G A U D I E N C E S W I T H P A S S I O N AT E P E R F O R M A N C E S F. SCARLATTI & J.S. BACH WITH RACHEL PODGER

www.armonico.org.uk

AC Academy is generously supported by Phillips 66 & JET and endorsed by The Royal Albert Hall

CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II

ST JOHN PASSION WITH IAN BOSTRIDGE Registered charity no. 1103159

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY JAN

MAY

F. Scarlatti & J.S. Bach with Rachel Podger 29 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick

Oz & Armonico Drink to Music 03 Mayfield Festival 05 Drapers’ Hall, Coventry

FEB

Dido & Aeneas | Pergolesi Stabat Mater 10 Warwick Arts Centre Theatre Victoria Requiem

F. Scarlatti & J.S. Bach with Rachel Podger 05 Malvern Theatres

TBC Saxon Sanctuary, Wootton Wawen

Vivaldi The Four Seasons with Rachel Podger 28 The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil

Dido & Aeneas | Pergolesi Stabat Mater 25 Thaxted Festival

MAR AC Academy – A Celebration of African Music TBC Warwick TBC Solihull

JUN

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II 21 The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil 22 Malvern Theatres 30 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick

JUL

Girls Allowed! Lecture Recital (Consort Soloists) 09 Worksop College

Oz & Armonico Drink to Music 02 Botley Festival

Choral Conducting Legacy Project 30 Mexico

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II 03 Proms at St Jude’s, London TBC Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music

APR St John Passion with Ian Bostridge 09 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick 15 Malvern Theatres

Oz & Armonico Drink to Music Gin & Phonic 13 Lichfield Festival of Music

BOOKING TICKETS Tickets for our local performances can be purchased from the Royal Spa Centre & Town Hall Box Office, Royal Pump Rooms, The Parade, Leamington Spa CV32 4AA. OPENING TIMES: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm | Sat-Sun 10am-3pm | Bank Holidays Closed Tickets can also be purchased by phone: 01926 334418 or online: www.armonico.org.uk

ARMONICO RECORDINGS Armonico Consort and Baroque Players have collaborated with some of the finest musicians to produce world-class recordings, which have gained widespread critical acclaim for their innovative programmes and exceptional quality. Our CDs are available at all major retailers, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music and Presto Music www.prestomusic.com. If you need assistance please contact marketing@armonico.org.uk or 01926 800109 ext 5.

HANDELIAN PYROTECHNICS

BEOWULF

DIDO & AENEAS

SUPERSIZE POLYPHONY

J. S. BACH, SOLO CANTATAS

GREENSLEEVES

ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT

LET THE BRIGHT SERAPHIM

NAKED BYRD

NAKED BYRD 2

REQUIEM

THE FAIRY QUEEN

DIXIT DOMINUS

F. SCARLATTI & J.S. BACH WITH RACHEL PODGER ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS SOLO VIOLIN | RACHEL PODGER F. SCARLATTI | DIXIT DOMINUS & MESSA A 16 J.S. BACH | VIOLIN CONCERTO IN A MINOR BWV 1041 A. VIVALDI | VIOLIN CONCERTO IN G MAJOR OP.4 NO.12 If you love both the splendid choral grandeur of Bach and Handel, but also the polychoral works of the Venetian baroque and the ornate complexity of Tallis’ Spem in Alium, this programme of Francesco Scarlatti’s rarely performed masterpieces in exclusive brand-new editions by Dr Geoffrey Webber, are not be missed. To complement these incredible works, international violinist Rachel Podger returns to treat both our audiences and performers to her totally unique and inspirational approach to Bach’s virtuosic Violin Concerto in A Minor and Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in G Major from ‘La Stravaganza’

THE FORGOTTEN SCARLATTI PRE-CONCERT TALK WITH DR GEOFFREY WEBBER (30 mins) Amongst the roll-call of famous baroque composers we often hear the name ‘Scarlatti’. The keyboardist Domenico Scarlatti was born in 1685, the same year that Bach and Handel were born, and his father Alessandro was one of the leading composers of vocal music of the day. Rachel Podger ©Theresa-Pewal

SAT 29 JAN | 7.30PM Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £34.50 | £23.50 | £17.50 | £13.50 Box Office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk SAT 05 FEB | 7.30PM Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £34.72 | £31.36 | £28.00 Box Office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.org.uk Scarlatti’s masterpieces will also be recorded in February and released later in 2022. Generously supported by John Cook, member of Armonico Consort’s Conductor’s Circle. Warwick performance is generously supported by David Phillips MBE & Phillips and Becker Accountants Ltd.

But the musical dynasty was much wider than just these, with both male and female members of the family working as musicians, often with colourful personal lives. This short talk introduces Francesco Scarlatti, who spent his final years in England and Ireland, and also investigates the fascinating nature and history of his unique polychoral masterpieces - the Mass and Dixit Dominus. SAT 29 JAN | 6.45 - 7.15PM Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £4.50 Box Office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk SAT 05 FEB | 6.15 - 6.45PM Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £3.50 Box Office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.org.uk

J.S. BACH ST JOHN PASSION ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS EVANGELIST | IAN BOSTRIDGE Bach’s most dramatic setting of the Passion text is brought to life by Armonico Consort and one of the world’s greatest tenors, Ian Bostridge. Experience Bach’s exquisitely beautiful arias, intertwined with moments of dramatic choral intensity in this often fast-paced retelling of the Passion story. The St John Passion is perhaps the finest musical setting of the Passion of Christ and will be performed both in the tranquil intimacy of St Mary’s Church Warwick and in its traditional Good Friday afternoon setting at Malvern Theatres.

SAT 09 APR | 7.30PM Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £34.50 | £23.50 £17.50 | £13.50 Box Office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk This performance has been generously supported by Hilary Eldridge, member of Armonico Consort’s Conductor’s Circle, in memory of her husband Jack Eldridge. FRI 15 APR | 3PM Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £34.72 | £31.36 | £28 Box Office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.org.uk

ALSO FEATURING IN THE OZ & ARMONICO DRINK TO MUSIC SERIES THIS SUMMER: TUE 03 MAY Mayfield Music Festival (A Second Sip) www.mayfieldfestival.co.uk

OZ & ARMONICO DRINK TO MUSIC: GIN & PHONIC! DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS COUNTERTENOR | WILLIAM TOWERS SOPRANO | ELOISE IRVING NARRATOR | OZ CLARKE In the third instalment of this hugely successful programme, the Oz & Armonico team investigate the highs and lows (mainly highs) of the relationship between gin, music and humans over the centuries. International wine expert, author and TV presenter Oz Clarke returns to host the perfect evening of music, gin, incredible facts and blunt fiction. Enjoy a few glasses of gin whilst hearing the incredible music of Purcell, Handel and Dowland. Learn of the incredible tales of human endeavour and failure, which has given us one of the most celebrated resurgence in alcoholic modern history.

SAT 02 JUL Botley Festival (Oz & Armonico Drink to Music) www.botley.com/ musicfestival WED 13 JUL Lichfield Festival of Music (Gin & Phonic) www.lichfieldfestivalof music.co.uk

THU 05 MAY | 7.30PM Drapers’ Hall, Coventry TICKETS: £25 Box Office: www.historic coventrytrust.org.uk Tickets on sale early February Ticket price includes two tasting glasses of gin. Generously supported by Roger Medwell, MBE DL

H. PURCELL

DIDO & AENEAS

G. PERGOLESI

STABAT MATER ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS Armonico Consort bring to life Pergolesi’s masterpiece, Stabat Mater. Demonstrating Baroque music at its finest and most intense, this provides a fitting partner to Henry Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas. In a highly emotionally charged and entertaining performance, the epic tragedy of a queen, a soldier and an illicit love is told through a rich array of music.

TUE 10 MAY | 7.30PM Warwick Arts Centre Theatre, Coventry TICKETS: £22.50 | £19.50 | £16.50 | £12.00 Box Office: 024 7652 4524 www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Performed with minimal staging, Armonico Consort’s beautifully tender and entertaining rendition of this incredible opera has delighted audiences across Europe.

SAT 25 JUN | 7.30PM Thaxted Festival www.thaxtedfestival.co.uk

VICTORIA REQUIEM ARMONICO CONSORT DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS The final work of Tomás Luis de Victoria and probably the greatest polyphonic work written, the Requiem, or ‘Officium Defunctorum’, is an intensely expressive masterpiece. This mass in six parts was written in 1605 for the funeral of the daughter of Spanish Emperor Charles V and represents the pinnacle of both Victoria’s art and Spanish Renaissance polyphony. The music communicates the emotional gravitas of the text with profound sensitivity, rendering the masterpiece one of the most deeply moving works ever composed. In a contrasting, more informal second half you will be entertained by the lighter side of music as Armonico Consort explores madrigals and folk songs from the past 500 years.

JUN 2022 DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED Saxon Sanctuary, Wootton Wawen Box Office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk Generously supported by Derek and Rosemary Holding

CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II NARRATED BY FORMER ROYAL CORRESPONDENT, JENNIE BOND ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS THE CHOIRS OF THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF ST MARY, WARWICK (Warwick only) To commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of the world’s longest reigning Monarch, Armonico Consort will recreate the highlights of the Coronation Service of Queen Elizabeth II in this unique concert performance. Narrated by former Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond, Armonico Consort’s five-star Choir and Orchestra will revive one of the most epic days of the 20th Century. PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: H. PARRY | I WAS GLAD G.F. HANDEL | ZADOK THE PRIEST W. WALTON | CORONATION TE DEUM R. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS | CREED (MASS IN G MINOR) THE NATIONAL ANTHEM (ARR. JACOBS)

Narrated by former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond

TUE 21 JUN | 7.30PM The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil TICKETS: £26 | £24.50 | £16 Box Office: 01935 422884 www.octagon-theatre.co.uk WED 22 JUN | 7.30PM Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £27.44 | £25.20 | £22.96 | £20.72 Box Office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk THU 30 JUN | 7.30PM Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £34.50 | £23.50 | £17.50 | £13.50 Box Office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk

SUN 03 JUL | 7.30PM Proms at St Jude’s, London www.promsatstjudes.org.uk JUL 2022 DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED Llandeilo Fawr Festival of Music www.llandeilomusicfestival.org.uk

20 IMAGES

FROM 20 YEARS

LATER THIS YEAR

MOZART REQUIEM | HANDEL CORONATION ANTHEMS OCT 2022

J.S. BACH | CHRISTMAS ORATORIO DECEMBER 2022

AUTUMN / WINTER 2022

Carols by Candlelight will be recorded and released in December 2022

This performance is generously supported by David Phillips & Phillips and Becker Accountants Ltd.

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT DECEMBER 2022

2022 CHOIR CREATION Our unique Choir Creation scheme creates sustainable in-school music education in partnership with local music hubs. • • • • •

Aimed at KS2 and KS3 Helps establish new choirs or improve existing choirs at schools Provides training for a teacher at the school to become the choir leader Offers ongoing mentoring support for the newly trained choir leader Free of charge

After a somewhat turbulent year in 2020, with ensemble singing restrictions in place from March until September, Armonico Consort have launched a new version of our unique Choir Creation programme for 2021, entitled Recovery and Restoration, designed to support school staff as they begin to re-establish singing in lessons and extra-curricular activities.  For more information, contact Gaynor Larkin glarkin@armonico.org.uk

FIND AN AFTER SCHOOL CHOIR NEAR YOU: Our AC Academy after school Choirs are singing groups for young people aged 7-18. We currently have three after school Academies that rehearse on a weekly basis, term time only. For more info, contact the Education department: ahannan@armonico.org.uk

WARWICK: TUESDAYS COVENTRY: WEDNESDAYS SOLIHULL: THURSDAYS www.armonico.org.uk/ac-academy

NEXT STEPS: 13-18 year old AC Academy singers can apply for an Armonico Consort scholarship through which they will have opportunities to perform with the professional Consort. For more information and an application form please contact: ahannan@armonico.org.uk

Warwick

Memory Singers Singing has been proven to be beneficial in helping people living with dementia to unlock their memories and re-establish cognitive pathways. Our weekly singing sessions, led by specially-trained musicians are about bringing people together in a fun, friendly and safe environment. They can help build new

friendships and boost confidence, helping people to feel more positive and supported. The sessions are open to anyone living with dementia or other neurological condition, but participants will need to be accompanied by a carer. The sessions will include

fun warm-ups, activity songs and a wide variety of familiar tunes. They will provide an opportunity to socialise with others and refreshments will be served. Each week there will also be the chance to sit back and enjoy our musicians performing a solo piece from our classical repertoire.

£5 per week, carers go free

FIRST SESSIO N FREE!

Wednesdays 1pm-2.30pm Unitarian Chapel, 31 High Street, Warwick, CV34 4AX To book a place or for further information please contact Sarah Riddell: sriddell@armonico.org.uk or call 07722 632242

www.armonico.org.uk

Registered charity no. 1103159

HELP YOUR EMPLOYEES FIND THEIR VOICE VOICE SQUAD WORKPLACE CHOIRS

THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO INVEST IN THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS OF YOUR WORKFORCE!

ARMONICO CONSORT THE VOICE SQUAD - BUILDING CHOIRS AND CONFIDENCE IN THE WORKPLACE

www.armonico.org.uk

BUILD A CHOIR IN JUST HALF A DAY VOICE SQUAD SESSIONS ARE: • Fun and friendly with absolutely no musical experience needed • Suitable for 10 to 100 people • Designed to take place anywhere on your premises

• L ed by Armonico Consort’s professional choir leaders and experienced rehearsal pianists with keyboard • Supported with all the musical and technical resources necessary

YOU PROVIDE THE WORKFORCE AND WORKPLACE, WE PROVIDE EVERYTHING ELSE! FIND OUT HOW CREATING A VOICE SQUAD WORKPLACE CHOIR CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS EMAIL:

voicesquad@armonico.org.uk

VISIT:

www.armonico.org.uk/voice-squad

BECOME A 20TH ANNIVERSARY PATRON In the words of our Artistic Director Christopher Monks, we will be celebrating our birthday “like any 20-year-old should”, and we would like to invite you to celebrate with us.

Our Patrons and Benefactors have been part of our story of excellent music making and life-changing educational projects for 20 years. You now have the chance to be part of the next chapter of our story by becoming a 20th Anniversary Patron.

In this special year, we invite you to celebrate with us by becoming a 20th Anniversary Member. Your support will help us to make this an exceptional 20th birthday year for Armonico Consort.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP WILL: •

•

Help us to create exciting and innovative new concert programmes and projects featuring the music you love, from Bach to Bernstein to Byrd and back again; Support our exceptionally talented AC Academy Scholars through masterclasses with renowned professional singers, one-to-one coaching and online singing lessons; Build new choirs and a new love of singing in schools across the country, including special needs schools, through our amazing AC Academy “choir creation” programme; Bring the joy of singing to workplaces, hospitals and care homes, particularly supporting those living with dementia and their carers to unlock memories and alleviate side-effects, often more effectively than drugs.

IN THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOU WILL RECEIVE: • A special, limited edition 20th anniversary Armonico Consort lapel pin.

• A free copy of our Greensleeves CD and 10% off the price of other Armonico Consort CDs.

• Invitation to Armonico Consort’s 20th birthday party in September.

• Acknowledgement in Armonico Consort’s 20th

• A free drink at Armonico Consort’s 20th Anniversary season concerts in Warwick.

Anniversary season brochures and concert programmes. • Exclusive e-newsletter.

Minimum monthly payment of £12.50 Annual payment of £150* * To continue until at least December 2022

MEET THE ARMONICO TEAM

CHRISTOPHER MONKS Artistic Director

HAZEL LAWRENCE Consort Manager

GAYNOR LARKIN Head of Education

JEN CUTHBERTSON Sales & Marketing Manager

SARAH RIDDELL Operations Manager

ANN HANNAN AC Academy Administrator

LEANNE RUSSELL Finance Manager

FIONA FRASER PR Consultant

ELAINE BARTON Consort & Marketing Administrator

BECKY COATES Education Administrator

ELLA MCNAMEE Education Administrator

NICK DREW Head of Development & Planning

EVA WILLIAMS Development Coordinator

We are especially grateful to the following Benefactors who have given most generously to support our work: CORPORATE SPONSORS Phillips66 Limited JET Phillips and Becker Accountancy Services POWERbreathe International Ltd   Rayburn Tours Flint & Thompson PATRONS Mrs Juliet Amery Mrs C Beecham Mrs Pauline M Brace Joseph Bradshaw Helen Brittain Mr David Burbidge CBE DL & Mrs Sandra Burbidge Mr Michael Burrows Mrs S Carr-Wu Miss A M Cessford Nick & Katie Chester Coralie Clark David & Jenny Clough Mrs A Cook Mrs J Cooke Mr M J Cooke Mr & Mrs D J Couchman Mrs Dawn Curtis Mrs Gemma Davies Mr Anthony E Davies Mrs D Fowler

Pam & Roger Gadsby Mr Malcolm Garner Caryll Green & Dr Elizabeth Saxon Dr Barbara A Harland Revd Wendy Heaney Monica Heath Dr J Henderson Mr Andrew Lawton Mrs S J Liggins Miss Jennifer Lorch Miss Ursula Lowe Mrs H Mills Dr A Nicholls Mr & Mrs Ian Nuttall Mr D R Patterson Mr Russell Payne Ms Benedetta Polk Dr & Mrs C P Rourke Mr Jim Rowley Mr David Sarginson Dr Derek Smith Mrs Sidney Syson Mr I M Taylor Mrs Patricia Tomlinson Mrs Tyrell Mrs J Upward Dr Louise Warburton Mrs J Ward Peter & Pat Wartnaby Edward & Samantha Wiggin Mr & Mrs J Wynn-Evans

EDUCATION PATRONS & BENEFACTORS Mrs Evelyn Berry Mr Ben Burbidge & Mrs Emma Burbidge Roger Cadbury CBE His Honour Richard Cole DL & Mrs Sheila Cole David & Sally Howells Mr David Kershaw CBE JP Mr Peter Marsh Mr Nigel May Capt. Dermot Rhodes Roger Wiglesworth CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE Mr & Mrs H S Brar Mr J Cook Mrs Hilary Eldridge Paul & Brigitta Lock Mr Roger Medwell MBE DL Mr John Osborn Mr David Phillips MBE & Mrs Robina Phillips Mr Baljit Shergill & Mrs Jinny Shergill Dr Paul Thandi CBE DL & Mrs Nicki Thandi

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE Mr John Boyden Sir Martin Dunne KCVO & Mrs Mish Dunne Mrs Margaret Eardley Sir John Egan & Lady Julia Egan Mr Jamie Justham & Mrs Alison Justham Gerry Slora & Jill Slora 20TH ANNIVERSARY PATRONS Dr Kate Bailey Mr & Mrs Faulds Tony & Helen Fitzpatrick Mr Malcolm CBE & Mrs Penny Harbour Jon Jeffery Robert MacPherson Dr F C Millard Pamela Stanier Mr & Mrs CJL Thorne 20TH ANNIVERSARY BENEFACTORS Hugh & Felicity Furber Pam O’Brien Barbara & Christopher Purser

@ArmonicoConsort

Registered charity no. 1103159

youtube.com/ArmonicoConsort

The information in this brochure is correct at the time of going to press. Armonico Consort reserves the right to change programmes and artists if necessary. In this eventuality, tickets cannot be refunded. Images © Peter Marsh, Ashmore Visuals © Simon J Price © Steve Marshall © The Real Music Video Company

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