CLASSICAL music lovers are in for a treat on Friday March 15th when the most gifted singers from King’s Ely will be joining forces with Ely Cathedral choirs and orchestra for a special and unusual biennial Choral Concert.
The King’s Ely Senior Chapel Choir will perform alongside Ely Cathedral Choristers, professional lay clerks and soloists to delight an audience at Ely Cathedral for the city’s contribution to the centenary celebrations of the music of Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). To mark the anniversary of the English composer, conductor and pianist, the concert will feature the rarely performed piece, The Company of Heaven (Britten), as well as the ever popular Come Ye Sons of Art (Purcell) from the baroque era.
Soloists include Tara Bungard (Soprano), Ben Alden (Tenor) and James Robinson (Bass), who is Head of German at the school.
Ely Cathedral’s Director of Music, Paul Trepte, said: “The music of Purcell and Britten is often paired in concert programmes because of the marked influence of Purcell on Britten. Both composers exhibit a wonderful and very special understanding of how to write for choirs and soloists and both make frequent use of ‘word painting’. The Purcell ode is often triumphant and always wonderfully melodious. It is one of the composer’s best known works, not least for the famous countertenor duet, Sound the Trumpet.
“Far less well-known is Britten’s early work, The Company of Heaven. It was written in 1937 for a BBC radio feature to mark Michaelmas Day on September 29th. This fine work includes music and poetry, which will be read by Canon David Pritchard and his wife, Tricia.”
Tickets are available from Ely Cathedral Box Office on 01353 660349 (Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.00pm) or at box.office@cathedral.ely.anglican.org priced £20, £15, £10. Parents of King’s Ely performers will receive 10% off £15 tickets and tickets for King’s Ely students are free.