Big Byrd with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble 28 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick
FEB
Big Byrd with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble 04 Malvern Theatres
MAR
The King’s Singers 16 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick J.S. Bach St Matthew Passion 30 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick 31 Malvern Theatres
MAY
Naked Byrd 07 Church of St John the Baptist, Honiley Dido & Aeneas 14 Malvern Theatres
JUNE
Monteverdi Vespers 21 Lighthouse, Poole 22 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick 23 Northern Aldborough Festival, Yorkshire
Oz & Armonico Drink to Music 25 West Green House Opera, Hampshire
Dido & Aeneas 27 Proms at St Jude’s, London Armonico Consort Soloists 28 Bradfield Music Festival
JULY
Monteverdi Vespers 01 Budleigh Music Festival, Devon 13 Malvern Theatres
SEP
The French Connection 30 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick OCT The French Connection 05 Malvern Theatres
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 Consort will be joined by the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of one of Britain’s greatest composers, William Byrd. This is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in Byrd’s musical world, exploring his work as well as that of those who he influenced, and those who influenced him.
If you loved the immense surround sound effects of the Supersize Polyphony programme this is an unmissable concert for you!
Programme highlights include:
JOSQUIN DES PREZ INVIOLATA A 12
WILLIAM BYRD MASS FOR FOUR VOICES
JOHANNES OCKEGHEM DEO GRATIAS A 36
JOHN SHEPPARD LIBERA NOS, SALVA NOS
WILLIAM BYRD THE GREAT SERVICE MAGNIFICAT
JOSQUIN DES PREZ QUI HABITAT A 24
SAT 28 JAN | 7.30PM
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £34.50 | £23.50 | £17.50 Box office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk
SAT 04 FEB | 7.30PM
Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £32.48 | £29.12 | £25.76 Box office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
This performance is generously supported by David Phillips MBE & Phillips and Becker Accountants Ltd.
In a totally unique project our AC Academy Choirs will join forces with school choirs from Warwick A Singing Town, Warwickshire Music Hub and the Warwickshire Choristers to perform alongside worldrenowned a cappella group, The King’s Singers.
The King’s Singers have represented the gold standard in a cappella singing on the world’s greatest stages for over fifty years. They are renowned for their connection, engagement with their audiences, their unrivalled technique, versatility and skill in performance. This promises to be a truly spectacular event, culminating in the performance of ‘A Suitcase Full of Songs’, a work commissioned by Armonico Consort for young voices with the The King’s Singers.
THU 16 MAR | 5PM & 7.30PM
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £18.50 | £15.50
SCHOOLS DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
Box office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk
J.S. Bach vividly, passionately, and dramatically brings to life the tale of the Passion of Christ according to Matthew, in what is perhaps the greatest of all the Passion settings and without doubt one of the finest choral works ever composed. Whatever your own spiritual beliefs, it is work of genius, combining the most perfectly formed recitative and powerful choruses with beautiful arias in the most dramatic, almost operatic way. Armonico Consort’s finest soloists, chorus and period instrumentalists will shine as they explore the intense emotions and humanity of the Passion of Christ as depicted in Bach’s masterpiece.
THU 30 MARCH | 7.30PM
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £34.50 | £23.50 £17.50 BOX OFFICE: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk
FRI 31 MARCH | 7PM
Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £39.76 | £36.40 £33.04 | £29.68 Box office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
This performance is generously supported by Hilary Eldridge, member of the Conductor’s Circle.
In this programme, Armonico Consort presents an atmospheric concert of the music of composers whose art saw their emotions laid bare, as described by Artistic Director, Christopher Monks. During the second half of the concert, Armonico Consort will explore the lighter side of music from the last 500 years, with a selection of madrigals and folksongs, some well-known and beautiful, and some completely outrageous!
Hear the world’s finest choral music, interwoven with the timeless magical chants of Hildegard of Bingen, in a programme which captured the hearts of our audiences and became their most successful touring programme since the first performances in 2009. The recording has been played hundreds of times by BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM as well as on radio stations around the world and has received five star reviews in the national press.
The incredible voices of William Towers countertenor, and Eloise Irving, soprano, bring to life Pergolesi’s masterpiece, Stabat Mater. Demonstrating Baroque music at its finest, this provides a fitting partner to the excitement of Henry Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas. Dido & Aeneas has become a work at the heart of the British musical heritage. 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. Performed with minimal staging, Armonico Consort’s beautifully tender and entertaining rendition of this incredible opera has delighted audiences across Europe, earning spectacular five star reviews from the national press.
DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS
A towering masterpiece of the early Baroque and one of the greatest pillars of music history, Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 offer a stunning array of brilliant instrumental writing, opulent choruses and moving arias.
Over 400 years ago this astounding work marked the end of the Renaissance and the beginning of the Baroque. The publication in 1610 almost certainly helped Monteverdi gain the prestigious post of maestro di cappella at St Mark’s in Venice, which he would keep until his death in 1643.
What better way to experience this incredible work than in this performance by Armonico Consort, led by its director Christopher Monks – the period instrument ensemble that’s built a reputation for the freshness and drama of its interpretations.
WED 21 JUN | 7PM
Lighthouse, Poole TICKETS: £28.50 | £24.50 £19.50 Box office: 01202 280000 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Featuring the Bournemouth Symphony Youth Choir
THU 22 JUN | 7.30PM
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £34.50 | £23.50 £17.50 Box office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk
FRI 23 JUN | 7.30PM
Northern Aldborough Festival, Yorkshire www.aldboroughfestival.co.uk
SAT 01 JUL | 7.30PM
Budleigh Music Festival, Devon www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk
THU 13 JUL | 7.30PM
Malvern Theatres
TICKETS: £39.76 | £36.40 £33.04 | £29.68 Box office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
ARMONICO CONSORT DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS
Join Armonico Consort for a programme which embraces the French passion for pretty much everything, from food to literature and music, and from art to, well, national strikes. Nobody does it better than the French!
Alongside the fabulously triumphant and arresting Te Deum by Charpentier (a work whose main theme is still used by the Eurovision Song Contest) are his lesserknown compositions, paired with those of Lully and Delalande. The work of these fine composers epitomises the brilliance of the French baroque in pretty much every form. A further highlight of this programme is a short work by Rameau, which many hail to be the most beautiful piece of music ever written.
Programme highlights include:
MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER MAGNIFICAT H73
JEAN BAPTISTE LULLY LA FOILES D’ESPAGNE LWV.48
MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER TE DEUM
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU LES BORÉADES ACT II, SCENE II ENTRÉE DE POLYMNIE
MICHEL RICHARD DELALANDE TE DEUM
SAT 30 SEP | 7.30PM
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick TICKETS: £34.50 | £23.50 £17.50 Box office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk
THU 05 OCT | 7.30PM
Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £39.76 | £36.40 £33.04 | £29.68 Box office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
This performance is generously supported by Mr Nigel May.
The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the growing need for people across our communities to access the health and wellbeing, social and educational benefits of singing and music. Our new Encore Appeal focuses on the three main strands of our work: singing workshops to bring high quality music education to schools in deprived areas; our Memory Singers work to improve the lives of people living with dementia; and empowering composition and performance workshops for children with special educational needs. This work is more in demand than ever, and we need your help to deliver it.
The Encore Appeal is aiming to raise £300,000 by the end of 2023, so that we can deliver our vital outreach work to over 30,000 people in the communities we exist to serve in the coming years. In order to get the Appeal rolling, I have committed myself to pay 30 pence in the £1 for each pound donated, whether personal or from a Charity, for the first £100,000 given. This includes new members joining any of our circles, including the lowest fee for membership of £98. Please support and give generously to this hugely important cause.
Many thanks,
Roger
Medwell
MBE DL President of Armonico Consort
THROUGH THE ENCORE APPEAL, WE WILL ADDRESS THESE SITUATIONS HEAD ON, REVERSING THE DECLINE AND TACKLING THE NEGLECT, PROVIDING FOR THOSE IN NEED.
SCAN TO LEARN MORE: www.armonico.org.uk
We are seeking the help of event staff to assist at our local performances. We currently stage around five concerts a year at St Mary’s Church in Warwick and are looking for somebody to assist the charity by preparing the performance area and audience seating for our classical music concerts. The role would be suited to enthusiastic and friendly individuals and may include some heavy lifting. A keen interest in music would be a plus. If you are interested, please contact Becky Coates by email: bcoates@armonico.org.uk
We are holding weekly singing sessions for people who are living with dementia and their carers, and the turn out is growing quickly every week. We are on the hunt for more volunteers who are able to come and support us each Wednesday at 1pm at All Saint’s Church, CV34 5NL. Volunteers will work on a rota basis depending on their availability. If you can help, please contact Sarah Riddell by email: sriddell@armonico.org.uk
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
Following the completion of the scheme, the schools are invited to take part in one of AC Academy’s gala concerts performing in prestigious venues alongside Armonico Consort’s professional singers and musicians.
For more information, contact Gaynor Larkin glarkin@armonico.org.uk
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.
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 info, contact the Education department: ahannan@armonico.org.uk
WARWICK: TUESDAYS
COVENTRY: WEDNESDAYS
SOLIHULL: THURSDAYS
For more information and an application form please contact: ahannan@armonico.org.uk www.armonico.org.uk/ac-academy
Phillips66 Limited
JET
Phillips and Becker Accountancy Services
POWERbreathe International Ltd Rayburn Tours NP Aerospace Braunston Marina Limited Angels Solicitors LLP RE: Digital Group
PATRONS
Mrs C Beecham
Mrs Pauline M Brace
Joseph Bradshaw
Helen Brittain
Mr Michael Burrows Mrs S Carr-Wu Miss A M Cessford Coralie Clark Mrs A Cook Mrs J Cooke
Mr & Mrs D J Couchman
Mrs Dawn Curtis Mrs Gemma Davies
Mr Anthony E Davies Mrs D Fowler
Mr Malcolm Garner
Caryll Green & Dr Elizabeth Saxon
Dr Barbara A Harland
Revd Wendy Heaney Monica Heath
We are especially grateful to the following Benefactors who have given most generously to support our work:
Dr J Henderson
Mr Andrew Lawton
Mrs S J Liggins
Miss Jennifer Lorch Miss Ursula Lowe Mrs H Mills Dr A Nicholls 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 Mr & Mrs J Wynn-Evans
Clive & Paula Benfield
Mr John Boyden Nick & Katie Chester
Sir Martin Dunne KCVO & Mrs Mish Dunne Mrs Margaret Eardley
Sir John Egan & Lady Julia Egan Mr Nigel May
Mrs Janet Moore & Honorary Alderman Michael Hammon
Gerry Slora & Jill Slora CONDUCTOR’S
CIRCLE
Mr & Mrs H S Brar His Honour Richard Cole DL & Mrs Sheila Cole
Mr J Cook Mrs Hilary Eldridge Paul & Brigitta Lock
Mr Jamie Justham & Mrs Alison Justham Mr Roger Medwell MBE DL
Mr David Phillips MBE & Mrs Robina Phillips
Mr Baljit Shergill & Mrs Jinny Shergill Dr Paul Thandi CBE DL & Mrs Nicki Thandi
ENCORE APPEAL PATRONS
Dr Kate Bailey
Mr Jazz Bhamra Margaret CaselyHayford CBE & Giles Quarme
Mr M J Cooke Rebecca Earle Mr & Mrs Faulds Tony & Helen
Fitzpatrick Professor Roger Gadsby MBE & Mrs Pam Gadsby Mr Malcolm Harbour
CBE & Mrs Penny Harbour
Gillian Higginson
Jon Jeffery
Robert Macpherson Dr F C Millard
Dr Bob Ruffle
Pamela Stanier
Mr & Mrs CJL Thorne
ENCORE APPEAL BENEFACTORS
Hugh & Felicity
Furber
Derek & Rosemary Holding
David & Sally Howells Mr David Kershaw
CBE JP Mr Peter Marsh Pam O’Brien Capt. Dermot Rhodes Barbara & Christopher Purser Roger Wiglesworth
ARMONICO CONSORT LTD
2 New Street, Warwick, CV34 4RX 01926 800 109 www.armonico.org.uk
Registered charity no. 1103159
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
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