Drawing inspiration from the simplicity of the Renaissance while revelling in a rich new harmonic landscape, this is music that opens up whole worlds of emotion.
Conducted by Sam Allchurch, with Australian theatre doyen John Gaden as narrator, this latest musical feast will include the soaring grace of Stanford’s The Blue Bird and Elgar’s majestic Lux Aeterna, Imogen Holst’s A Hymne to Christ, the gentle ecstasy of Gustav Holst’s Nunc Dimittis and the wild rapture of Finzi’s love song My Spirit Sang All Day.
You’ll feel the yearning of Vaughan Williams’ Agnus Dei, the warmth of Judith Weir’s Love Bade Me Welcome and the poignant embrace of Parry’s Songs of Farewell as well as a new work by Australian composer Harry Sdraulig entitled Evening Star.
Ria said the mostly old repertoire would appeal to people who grew up with music along with others who were new to music.
“You will be amazed since all of the music is based on poetry and it’s in English,” she said.
“I learnt Parry’s Songs of Farewell when I studied music at university and the words are so beautiful, I immediately fell in love. The Blue Bird is also extremely popular and just keeps popping up, I even heard it performed by a world-leading ensemble in England, it’s so incredibly soul-stirring.”
Catch ‘Heirs and Rebels’ on Sunday, September 29, from 3pm with tickets from $30 at: sydneychamberchoir.org/heirsandrebels
Romantic masterpieces to thrill old, new music lovers
MUSIC lovers can celebrate the beauty of the English choral tradition with an array of Romantic masterpieces when Sydney Chamber Choir, featuring Padstow soprano Ria Andriani, present ‘Heirs and Rebels’ at St Laurence’s Church (next to central station) next month.