Armonico Consort - Spring Summer 2016 Season Brochure

SPRING SUMMER 2016 VENETIAN CORONATION WITH MARTYN LEWIS OZ & ARMONICO DRINK TO MUSIC WORLD CLASS MUSIC IN WORLD CLASS VENUES ‘SPECTACULAR’ CLASSIC FM

THE TIMES

WWW.ARMONICO.ORG.UK

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY JANUARY

APRIL

30 The Doge’s Coronation

Collegiate Church of St Mary Warwick

24 Nicola Benedetti & Armonico

The Anvil | Basingstoke 25 Nicola Benedetti & Armonico

Collegiate Church of St Mary Warwick

FEBRUARY 06 The Doge’s Coronation

Malvern Theatres 14 Dido and Aeneas

& Pergolesi Stabat Mater

Theatre Severn | Shrewsbury 16 Dido and Aeneas

& Pergolesi Stabat Mater Lighthouse | Poole 19 Dido and Aeneas

& Pergolesi Stabat Mater

The Octagon Theatre | Yeovil 20 Dido and Aeneas

& Pergolesi Stabat Mater

The Hawth | Crawley

MARCH 12

13

17

17

19

20

21

AC Academy does Les Mis Blue Coat School | Coventry Dido and Aeneas & Pergolesi Stabat Mater Exeter Northcott Theatre AC Academy Gala Concert Lighthouse | Poole Bach Cantatas with Gillian Keith The Courthouse | Warwick Bach Cantatas with Gillian Keith Malvern Theatres St John Passion St Mary’s Church | Temple Balsall Bach Cantatas with Gillian Keith The Octagon Theatre | Yeovil

MAY 17

18

20

Oz & Armonico Drink to Music Warwick Castle | Great Hall Oz & Armonico Drink to Music Warwick Castle (invitation only event) Oz & Armonico Drink to Music Bury St Edmund’s Festival

JUNE 14

17

AC Academy Gala Concert Royal Albert Hall Oz & Armonico Drink to Music St Peter’s Church | Wootton Wawen

JULY 01 Holst Inspired

Thaxted Festival 03 The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Beaminster Festival 14 Oz & Armonico Drink to Music

Cheltenham Music Festival 15 Oz & Armonico Drink to Music

Harrogate International Festival 31 Oz & Armonico Drink to Music

Petworth Festival

THE DOGE’S CORONATION ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS THE ENGLISH CORNETT & SACKBUT ENSEMBLE NARRATOR | MARTYN LEWIS Armonico Consort has now firmly established its reputation throughout the UK for superb performances of the most challenging and daring music ever written, from the 60 part music of Striggio to the 40 part Tallis Motets.

In a new programme inspired by the majestic coronation ceremonies of 16th century Venice, this concert will recreate the dramatic sounds of the most ostentatious period of music history. The programme includes the 16 part ‘surround sound’ of Andrea Gabrieli’s Gloria and Giovanni Gabrieli’s Omnes Gentes.

With kind thanks to David Phillips and Phillips and Becker Accountants Ltd. for sponsoring this concert.

30 JANUARY 2016 7.30PM Collegiate Church of St Mary | Warwick TICKETS: £32.50 to include champagne reception £21.50 | £15.50 | £11.00 + booking fee 0844 581 0750 or www.armonico.org.uk 06 FEBRUARY 2016 7.45PM Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £20.72 - £27.44 (including 12% booking fee) 01684 892277 or www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

14 FEBRUARY 2016 7.30PM Theatre Severn Shrewsbury TICKETS: £22 | £15 01743 281281 or www.theatresevern.co.uk

PURCELL | DIDO & AENEAS PERGOLESI | STABAT MATER ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS SOPRANO | ELIN MANAHAN THOMAS COUNTERTENOR | WILLIAM TOWERS Whilst Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is the only complete opera written during his short life, it has become a work at the heart of British musical heritage. The epic tragedy of a queen, a soldier and an illicit love is told through a spectacularly rich array of music.

From the short life of one composer to another, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi was an Italian court composer who died at the age of just 26. Written in the final weeks of his life, this deeply moving piece is widely recognised as the definitive setting of the spiritual text, and has been described as ‘the master work of Latin music’.

16 FEBRUARY 2016 7.30PM (soprano Gillian Keith) Lighthouse Poole TICKETS: 0844 406 8666 or www.lighthousepoole.co.uk 19 FEBRUARY 2016 7.30PM The Octagon Theatre Yeovil TICKETS: £19.50 | £18.00 | £16.50 01935 422884 or www.octagon-theatre.co.uk 20 FEBRUARY 2016 7.30PM The Hawth Crawley TICKETS: £28.50 01293 553636 or www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk 13 MARCH 2016 Exeter Northcott Theatre TICKETS: 01392 726363 or www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

J.S BACH ‘THE WEDDING CANTATA’ & OTHER GREAT SOPRANO CANTATAS ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS SOPRANO | GILLIAN KEITH In a sublime evening of baroque brilliance, international soprano Gillian Keith joins Armonico Consort in the roller-coaster ride of melody and profound beauty of Bach’s incredible Cantatas, including the masterpiece The Wedding Cantata.

Programme includes: Ich habe genug BWV 82a; O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit BWV 210; a movement from ‘The Wedding Cantata’ BWV 202 and the Marcello Oboe Concerto.

‘The fine soprano Gillian Keith…tirelessly vaults into the vocal stratosphere’ The Times

17 MARCH 2016 7.30PM The Courthouse | Warwick TICKETS: £21.50 (+ booking fee) 0844 581 0750 or www.armonico.org.uk 19 MARCH 2016 7.45PM Malvern Theatres TICKETS: £20.72 - £27.44 (including 12% booking fee) 01684 892277 or www.malvern-theatres.co.uk 21 MARCH 2016 7.30PM The Octagon Theatre | Yeovil TICKETS: £18.50 | £17.00 | £15.50 01935 422884 or www.octagon-theatre.co.uk

ST JOHN PASSION ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS EVANGELIST | NATHAN VALE No finer musical setting of the passion text exists than that which Bach set of St John’s Gospel. In the tranquil intimacy of St Mary’s, Temple Balsall, this performance is being generously sponsored by patrons of Armonico Consort in memory of loved ones. The concert will also be offered in memory of Christopher’s mother, Elspeth Monks.

St Mary’s Temple Balsall is a fine historic building in an attractive country setting just south of Solihull. The site’s origin is with the Knights Templar foundation. Following their disbanding, it passed to the Knights Hospitaller. After the Reformation, it became the property of Lady Katherine Leveson, who was responsible for establishing the church, the school and the almshouses (now the residential care home) of which the current site comprises.

20 MARCH 2016 5.30PM St Mary’s Church Temple Balsall | Solihull TICKETS: £17.50 (+ booking fee) 0844 581 0750 or www.armonico.org.uk We are very grateful to Tim Coghlan and Braunston Marina for sponsoring this concert

The concert is also being offered in memory of John Dilworth who at the time of his death in 2014, was Church Warden of St Mary’s Church.

‘My mother died suddenly late in 2015. She sang this work with Collegium a few years back and was a huge supporter of Armonico Consort and AC Academy and a rock to me throughout our growth. Half of all proceeds of this concert will go towards our work with AC Academy children’s choirs across the UK in which she so strongly believed. I would encourage anyone who knew her to come and share this incredible work and the legacy that she left’ Christopher Monks

NICOLA BENEDETTI SOLO VIOLIN | NICOLA BENEDETTI ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS VIVALDI | VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MINOR RV 235 VIVALDI | VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR RV 211 MOZART | SOLEMN VESPERS MOZART | VIOLIN CONCERTO NO 5 IN A MAJOR K 219 Winner of Best Female Artist at the 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards and one of the most sought after violinists of today, Nicola Benedetti joins Armonico Consort for a wonderfully demanding programme.

Mozart’s sunny and uplifting ‘Turkish’ Concerto is certainly the most impressive of his five violin concertos.

It surpasses the others in scale and richness of ideas, in brilliance of orchestration and solo-violin writing. Nicola Benedetti also returns to her great love of Italian Baroque, and will be in her element in the two Vivaldi concertos.

They promise to be two stunning evenings of music.

24 APRIL 2016 7.30PM The Anvil | Basingstoke TICKETS: 01256 844244 or www.anvilarts.org.uk 25 APRIL 2016 7.30PM Collegiate Church of St Mary | Warwick TICKETS: £33.50 to include champagne reception £22.50 | £16.50 | £12 + booking fee 0844 581 0750 or www.armonico.org.uk ‘Nicola Benedetti brings… a degree of heat, subtlety and quicksilver colours only achieved by the world’s best.’

The Times

17 MAY 2016 | 7.30PM Warwick Castle | Great Hall TICKETS: 0844 581 0750 or www.armonico.org.uk 18 MAY 2016 | 7.30PM Warwick Castle | Great Hall President and Conductor Circle invite only event 20 MAY 2016 | 7.30PM Bury St Edmund’s Festival TICKETS: 01284 758000 or www.buryfestival.co.uk

OZ & ARMONICO DRINK TO MUSIC! ARMONICO CONSORT & BAROQUE PLAYERS DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS SOPRANO | ELOISE IRVING COUNTERTENOR | WILLIAM TOWERS NARRATOR | OZ CLARKE It is a little known fact that writer, wine critic and broadcaster Oz Clarke was a singer for many years, starting at Canterbury, continuing with the Schola Cantorum, followed by both the Monteverdi Choir and the Academy of St Martin’s. In a completely unique programme presented cabaret style, Oz and Armonico Consort investigate the spurious links between wine from across the world and the music of the Baroque.

Featuring music from composers including Bach, Purcell and Vivaldi, plus some of the most upbeat Baroque dance music from South America, a highly entertaining evening is guaranteed!

17 JUNE 2016 | 7.30PM St Peters Church Wootton Wawen TICKETS: www.churchesofarden.org.uk 14 JULY 2016 | 7.30PM Cheltenham Music Festival TICKETS: 0844 880 8094 or www.cheltenhamfestivals.com 15 JULY 2016 | 8PM Harrogate International Festival TICKETS: 01423 562 303 or www.harrogate internationalfestivals.com 31 JULY 2016 | 7.30PM Petworth Festival TICKETS: 01798 344576 or www.petworthfestival.org.uk Ticket price includes four tasting glasses of wine to accompany the performance.

HOLST INSPIRED A VERY BRITISH CELEBRATION ARMONICO CONSORT & ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS In an evening which explores the most beautiful music ever to have come from the British Isles, Armonico Consort brings to life a world which inspired the life of Gustav Holst, and the extraordinary legacy of those touched by what he left behind.

The works of Bach, Byrd and Blow had a huge influence on Gustav Holst, and indeed played a part in several of the festivals he programmed right here in Thaxted. Armonico Consort will aim to recreate the sounds of the genius which touched Holst’s heart so dearly.

During the second half Armonico, with the help of a guest narrator, will bring you the lighter side of music with a quirky look at what it means to be British.

01 JULY 2016 8PM Thaxted Festival TICKETS: www.the-trumpet.co.uk/ community/thaxted-festival

THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II ARMONICO CONSORT & ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR | CHRISTOPHER MONKS In the year of the Queen’s 90th birthday, Armonico Consort celebrates by recreating the sounds of her coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Featuring music including Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Parry’s I Was Glad, Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G Minor and Walton’s Coronation Te Deum, the concert is narrated by a special guest speaker.

03 JULY 2016 7.30PM Beaminster Festival TICKETS: 01308 862943 or www.beaminsterfestival.com

ALSO THIS SEASON BEOWULF SEPTEMBER 2016 17 | Warwick 22 | Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama | Cardiff 25 | Malvern Theatres 27 | The Octagon | Yeovil

HANDEL CORONATION ANTHEMS DECEMBER 2016 06 | Collegiate Church of St Mary | Warwick

CARMINA BURANA WITH AC ACADEMY FEBRUARY 2017 Royal Shakespeare Company | Stratford upon Avon

ST MATTHEW PASSION WITH IAN BOSTRIDGE MARCH 2017 08 | The Octagon | Yeovil 09 | Malvern Theatres 10 | The Hawth | Crawley APRIL 2017 14 | Warwick Arts Centre (John Mark Ainslie)

AC ACADEMY CHOIRS FOR CHILDREN AGED 7 - 14

AC Academy is Armonico Consort’s education programme which has benefited over 100,000 young people and reached 15,000 children across the UK each year offering life changing experiences through participatory music projects. AC Academy’s after-school choirs are run by workshop leaders of the highest calibre to create spectacular concerts, accompanied by professional musicians.

By 2020 Armonico Consort aims to create 300 new children’s choirs and choir leaders creating a singing legacy across the UK.

COME AND HEAR THE VOICES OF THE FUTURE DOMINATE SOME OF THE UK’S MOST EXCITING VENUES! AC AC ACADEMY ACADEMY DOES DOES LES LES MIS MIS 12 MARCH 2016, 5PM Blue Coat C of E School, Coventry TICKETS: 0844 581 0750 or www.armonico.org.uk

AC AC ACADEMY ACADEMY GALA GALA 17 MARCH 2016, 7PM | Lighthouse, Poole TICKETS: £7.50, £5 (children) 0844 406 8666 or www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

AC AC ACADEMY ACADEMY AT AT THE THE ROYAL ROYAL ALBERT ALBERT HALL HALL 14 JUNE 2016, 7PM TICKETS: 020 7589 8212 or www.royalalberthall.com

ACAcademyChoirs

@ACAcademyChoirs

AC Academy sponsors:

GIVING THE GIFT OF MUSIC Armonico Consort is a registered charity and alongside our regular programme of fantastic professional concerts we support a major programme of education activity, delivered in partnership with local music education organisations. We provide these life-changing programmes in schools free of charge to young people who might not otherwise have access to first-class musical education.

We reach around 15,000 children every year, through our choral workshops, choir creation programmes and AC Academy choirs, and offer many of them the opportunity to perform on the stages of Britain’s most prestigious concert venues. In June 2016 we will be returning to the Royal Albert Hall in London for our national celebration gala concert.

and the generous contributions of our individual donors and Patrons.

There are many ways in which you can support our work with young people, one of which is our Patrons Scheme. This is open to all and starts at only £6 per month, with a number of exclusive benefits. Contact us, or pick up a brochure at one of our concerts, for more information.

To keep this programme going, we need to raise at least £66,000 each year. This is achieved through applications to grant-making trusts and foundations, corporate sponsorship,

With your help, we can continue to change many more young lives for years to come. If you would like to discuss how you might be able to help us, then please get in touch with our fundraising team.

In addition, you can make a one-off gift, sponsor an aspect of our work (for example, an AC Academy concert) or organise a fundraising event. We also work in partnership with local solicitors Blythe Liggins, who would be happy to assist you if you are contemplating leaving a legacy to our work in your will.

If you would like to discuss how you might be able to help us, then please contact: fundraising@armonico.org.uk or 01926 800109 (option 3).

We are especially grateful to the following Benefactors who have given most generously to support our work: CORPORATE SPONSORS

Blythe Liggins Solicitors Wright Hassall Phillips66 Limited JET Phillips and Becker Accountancy Services Eversheds Braunstone Marina

PATRONS

Mrs Juliet Amery Mrs Hildegard Atherton Mrs C Beecham Mrs Pauline M Brace Joseph Bradshaw Braunston Marina Helen Brittain Mr Michael Burrows Group Captain Peter Butcher, OBE Mrs S Carr-Wu Miss A M Cessford Mr Tim Coghlan His Honour Richard Cole, DL Mr J Cook Mrs A Cook Mrs J Cook Mr & Mrs D J Couchman Mrs V Cox

Sponsors

Mrs Dawn Curtis Mrs Gemma Davies Mr Anthony E Davies Mr James E Drake Mr & Mrs Eldridge Mr J C A Eldridge Mrs D Fowler Mr Malcolm Garner Ma Malcolm Harbour Dr Barbara A Harland Mrs Maureen Harris Rev Wendy Heaney Dr J Henderson Mr J D Henderson Mr and Mrs J G Horton Mr & Mrs David Howells Mr J S W Jeffrey Mr Andrew Lawton Mrs S J Liggins Miss Jennifer Lorch Miss Ursula Lowe Mr Robert Macpherson Dr F C Millard Mrs H Mills Mrs Kathleen Molan Mrs S Y Neville Ms Angela Nicholls Mr D R Patterson

Mr Russell Payne Phillips and Becker Accountancy Services Ms Simone Pickworth Ms Benedetta Polk Barbara & Christopher Purser Professor Alan Richens Dr and Mrs C P Rourke Mrs A Rowbury Mr M Rowe Mr Jim Rowley Caryll Green & Dr Elizabeth Saxon Mrs S Siewert Professor Bryan Stoten Mrs Sideny Syson Mr & Mrs C J Thorne Mrs J Upward Mrs J Ward Peter & Pat Wartnaby Mr D & Mrs F Westsott Mrs Bridget Winstanley Mr & Mrs J Wynn-Evans Mr I M Taylor & Ms Y Glover A M Heath

Mr David Burbidge Mr Paul Watts Mr David Sarginson Mr Ian Taylor & Mrs Ivette Glover

EDUCATION PATRONS & BENEFACTORS

Mrs Sheila Cole Mrs Audrey Gillitt Mr Dermot Rhodes A M Rowbury

CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE Mr & Mrs David Phillips Mr & Mrs Roger Medwell President Sir John Egan

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

Mr John Boyden Rayburn Tours John & Christine Briffitt Sir John & Lady Julia Egan Sara & Tim Fowler Jamie & Alison Justham Mr & Mrs John Sidwell

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.

NAKED BYRD & NAKED BYRD 2 ‘Prepare to be dazzled by the sound this choir makes’ Classic FM

LET THE BRIGHT SERAPHIM ‘The tone is immediately set by Crispian SteelePerkins’ trilling trumpet’ The Independant

DIDO AND AENEAS ‘Lacks nothing in humanity, poignancy and vitality’ The Daily Telegraph

VICTORIA REQUIEM Tomas Luis de Victoria’s heart wrenchingly beautiful ‘Officium Defunctorum’, the pinnacle of Spanish Renaissance Polyphony.

GREENSLEEVES Mesmerising new arrangements of the most beautiful folk music ever written including eight world-premiere recordings.

ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT TWO A stunning selection of festive music both old and new, from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols to ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.

If you would like to purchase any of our discs, please contact: admin@armonico.co.uk or 01926 800109 (option 1)

CONTACT US ARMONICO CONSORT LTD 5 Pegasus House Olympus Avenue Warwick CV34 6LW 01926 800109 admin@armonico.org.uk www.armonico.org.uk Registered in England no: 4851028 Registered Charity no: 1103159 facebook.com/ArmonicoConsort @ArmonicoConsort

The information in this brochure was 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.

COVER IMAGE: Simon Fowler