Armonico Consort Spring Summer Season 2023

2023 SEASON

SPRING SUMMER ‘PURE PLEASURE’ THE GUARDIAN THE TIMES

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THE INDEPENDENT

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

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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 BIG BYRD

THE KING’S SINGERS

www.armonico.org.uk

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

MONTEVERDI VESPERS Registered charity no. 1103159

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY JAN

JUNE

Big Byrd with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble 28 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick

Monteverdi Vespers 21 Lighthouse, Poole 22 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick 23 Northern Aldborough Festival, Yorkshire

FEB Big Byrd with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble 04 Malvern Theatres

Oz & Armonico Drink to Music 25 West Green House Opera, Hampshire

MAR

Dido & Aeneas 27 Proms at St Jude’s, London

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

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

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. For assistance please contact: marketing@armonico.org.uk or 01926 800109 ext 5.

BRAND NEW RECORDING

BRAND NEW CHRISTMAS RECORDING

SCARLATTI DIXIT DOMINUS & MESSA A 16

NOËL

HANDELIAN PYROTECHNICS

BEOWULF

DIDO & AENEAS

ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT

NAKED BYRD

NAKED BYRD 2

J. S. BACH, SOLO CANTATAS

GREENSLEEVES

SUPERSIZE POLYPHONY

LET THE BRIGHT SERAPHIM

THE FAIRY QUEEN

REQUIEM

BIG BYRD! FEATURING THE ENGLISH CORNETT & SACKBUT ENSEMBLE ARMONICO CONSORT DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS 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.

THE KING’S SINGERS FEATURING AC ACADEMY CHILDREN’S CHOIRS ARMONICO CONSORT DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS 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

a

J.S. BACH

ST MATTHEW PASSION ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS EVANGELIST | BEN THAPA CHRISTUS | STUART O’HARA 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.

NAKED BYRD ARMONICO CONSORT DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS 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.

SUN 07 MAY | 4PM Church of St John The Baptist, Honiley TICKETS: £15.50 Box office: 01926 334418 www.armonico.org.uk Generously sponsored by Richard & Sheila Cole in support of Armonico Consort’s work with Memory Singers choirs.

DIDO & AENEAS | PURCELL STABAT MATER | PERGOLESI ARMONICO CONSORT DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS 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.

SUN 14 MAY | 3.30PM Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £32.48 | £29.12 £25.76 Box office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk TUE 27 JUN | 7.30PM Proms at St Jude’s, London www.promsatstjudes.org.uk

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

MONTEVERDI VESPERS ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS

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

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.

FRI 23 JUN | 7.30PM Northern Aldborough Festival, Yorkshire www.aldboroughfestival.co.uk

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.

SAT 01 JUL | 7.30PM Budleigh Music Festival, Devon www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk

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.

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

Programme highlights include: MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER MAGNIFICAT H73 JEAN BAPTISTE LULLY LA FOILES D’ESPAGNE LWV.48 MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER TE DEUM

THE FRENCH CONNECTION 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.

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.

‘PURE PLEASURE’ THE GUARDIAN THE INDEPENDENT

THE TIMES

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

THE TELEGRAPH

HELPING COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC CHILDREN’S CHOIRS

PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

www.armonico.org.uk Registered charity no. 1103159

G E N E R O U S LY S U P P O R T E D BY MR ROGER MEDWELL MBE DL

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

www.armonico.org.uk Registered charity no. 1103159

Warwick

Memory Singers Wednesdays 1pm-2.30pm All Saints Church, Vicarage Fields, Warwick, CV34 5NL FIRST SESSIO N FREE!

To book a place or for further information please contact Sarah Riddell: sriddell@armonico.org.uk or call 07722 632242

Generously sponsored by Hilary Eldridge, member of Armonico Consort’s Conductor’s Circle.

VOLUNTEER WITH ARMONICO! We depend upon our fantastically supportive volunteers who assist with a wide range of exciting activities as part of a warm, welcoming social network within the communities around us.

HELP OUT AT OUR LOCAL PERFORMANCES

SUPPORT OUR WARWICK MEMORY SINGERS

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

2023 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

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

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

Angels Solicitors LLP is a long established firm of solicitors offering a range of legal services for individuals and businesses.

Angels Solicitors proudly supports Armonico Consort’s Memory Singers for those living with dementia and their carers.

Services offered include Planning for Inheritance Tax Lasting Powers of Attorney

Family Matters Wills

Conveyancing

and much more!

Offer

Free initial advice for Armonico Consort Patrons (by telephone, video link or in person)

Angels Solicitors LLP, 117/119 New Union Street, Coventry CV1 2NY Email: reception@angelsolicitors.co.uk Tel: 024 7625 2211 Web: www.angels-solicitors.co.uk

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 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

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 PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE 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

CONTACT US ARMONICO CONSORT LTD 2 New Street, Warwick, CV34 4RX 01926 800 109 www.armonico.org.uk

facebook.com/ArmonicoConsort

Registered charity no. 1103159

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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

@ArmonicoConsort @ArmonicoConsort

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