Stonehaven Chorus are holding their annual Spring Concert on Sunday 19th May 2024 at 7.30pm in Stonehaven Town Hall.
This year is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gustav Holst and it is also 100 years since the death of Giacomo Puccini and the chorus is performing works by both of these composers in their forthcoming concert.
We will performing Holst’s 1st Choral Symphony in a world premiere of a special arrangement by our own musical director, Ralph Jamieson, who will also conduct the concert.
The arrangement is for a soprano soloist and chorus and will be accompanied by 2 pianos, a marimba, vibraphone, percussion and an organ/ pedal synthesiser. Ralph has also produced an updated vocal score of this work for the chorus to sing in the concert.
For the text in this piece Holst used the poems of John Keats which though contrasting have a clear thread of thought running through them linking together the Prelude and subsequent movements.
We will also be performing Puccini’s Messa di Gloria which consists of choruses with tenor and baritone soloists. This piece has 6 parts, namely, a Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnes Dei and was first performed in its entirety in 1880.
However the piece lay forgotten for many years until it was rediscovered and subsequently performed again in America in 1952. Since then it has been forming part of the programme for many concerts around the world.
Tickets price £15 ( under 16 free) can be obtained through the chorus website from Giulianotti’s, Evan Street, from members – and at the door where payment can be made by cash or card.