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Previous concerts |
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Previous concertsA look at the programmes of previous concerts given by The Addison Singers shows the range of repertoire of the choirs. 'Chilcott, Ravel and Bernstein' Summer Classical Concert, 3 July 2010Despite a beautiful evening and the attractions of football and tennis, it was pleasing to see a good-sized and enthusiastic crowd gather at the Grosvenor Chapel. The Oratorio & Chamber Choirs gave a wide ranging programme that was much enjoyed by the audience - and hopefully by the choirs too. Howard Skempton was present to hear the first performance of the chorus & piano version of his piece 'That Music Always Round Me' with the Oratorio Choir singing this tricky piece very well indeed. As always with Howard's music, what looks easy on the page is far from straight-forward in performance and the composer expressed his pleasure both with the performance of his piece and the programme as a whole. The Oratorio Choir also gave good performances of two songs from Bernstein's 'Candide' (in the middle of which Fiammetta Ryan's rendition of 'Glitter & be Gay' was I know much enjoyed), but I was particularly pleased with the performances of Bob Chilcott's 'Fables' - full of character and contrast - making a most satisfying final piece. The Chamber Choir seemed almost relaxed in the second half, singing four of Finzi's 'Songs of Robert Bridges' - hardly surprising after the demands of Ravel's 'Trois Chanson' in the first - a very impressive achievement for any group of singers. I can't finish my report without mentioning Matthew Hough - who apart from singing with the Chamber Choir and accompanying the Oratorio Choir with his customary flair, gave a very accomplished performances of some Chopin piano solo's - performances that brought loud cheers from both choir and audience. So well done to all! The summer break is a long one - but I look forward to seeing you all again for another exciting programme towards the end of September. David Wordsworth - July 2010 'The Rhythm of Life' Summer Jazz Concert, 26 June 2010This concert celebrated the wonderful and notorious Rat Pack of the 1950's and '60s, a name given to them by Lauren Bacall. It featuring songs made famous by the singing greats of Sammy Davis Jnr., Dean Martin, Shirley MacLean and of course Frank Sinatra. Competing with a full summer of sport the Jazz concert raised their glasses with the likes of 'That's Life!', 'Aint That a Kick in the Head', 'Chicago' to 'Mr Bojangles' and the wonderfully bittersweet 'If My Friends Could See Me Now'. The Addison Trio kicked a real grove backed by our returned bassist Paul Downing with some sublime blowing by the clarinettist, Ian East. The evening rounded off with an energetically crisp performance by the Jazz Choir of the title song followed by the Ensemble, suitably attired, bidding the evening farewell with 'One For My Baby'. Faure Requiemin at the Madeleine Church, Paris 2010
On Saturday 1 May 2010 members of the Oratorio and Chamber Choir with their Music Director, David Wordsworth and organist Ed Kemp-Luck performed the amazing Faure Requiemin at the Madeleine Church, Paris. With the church filling during our allocated one hour rehearsal slot there was no time for nerves and by the time we began the performance it was full - what a fantastic sight! The performance went without a hitch as the choir and the soloists; Rosemarie Sherrington (soprano) Chris Birks (tenor) and Andrew Potter (bass) rose to the occasion. For everyone involved it was an amazing and moving experience and will be added to the choirs rather impressive list of venues in which it has performed! Read more here. 'Its Show Time!' Spring Jazz Concert, 28 March 2010Featuring songs from films such as 'Windmills of your mind', 'The first time ever I saw your face', 'Aint Misbehavin', 'I want to walk like you', 'In the Mood', 'My Favourite Things' and 'Somewhere' the concert produced a really tight performance from the Jazz Ensemble. Jill Jarman's running explanation brought interesting snippets particularly with a personal favourite the songmiester Michel Legrand dueting with Oscar Peterson. Accompanying a low, sultry solo performance of 'Oh, Lady be Good' with Stephanie Goodwin, the Addison Trio clicked with some phenomenal playing. The Jazz Choir met this and produced a strong lively performance with 'America' from the legendary 'West Side Story'. Spring Classical Concert, 20 March 2010The concert, comprising of two contrasting Requiems, Faure's well known and a very recent composition by Howard Goodall written in 2008, was spellbinding. The performance, in a packed church, was also competing with the closure of both tube lines and subsequent traffic chaos and a fun fair near the church. Faure's Requiem was performed as the composer originally intended and David Wordsworth commented ?Both pieces are mainly reflective with a sense of quiet acceptance". The choirs, joined by our regular partners the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra, will also be performing Faure's piece in Paris in May 2010.Joint Carol Concert, 17 December 2009Following the success of last year a carol concert was held at St Michael's & All Angels in Bedford Park, W4 featuring all four Addison Singers choirs - Jazz Choir and Ensemble, Oratorio and Chamber Choirs including a selection of carols for choirs and audience. We also raised awareness and funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care. This exciting concert featured some of the usual Christmas stalwarts such as 'Ding, Dong, Merrily on High', 'Oh Little Town of Bethlehem' and 'While Shepherds Watched' as well as some unusual and inspiring songs from our recent concerts. The Jazz Ensemble sung a magnificent arrangement of a spiritual called 'Steal Away' . The Jazz Choir, not to be outdone, performed 'Balm in Gilead' while the Oratorio Choir sang John Joubert's 'Torches', the Chamber Choir Eric Whitacre's 'Lux Aurumque' with everyone coming together to sing 'In The Bleak Mid-winter'.Jazz Classical Concert, 12 December 2009The Saturday concert and was a resounding success. Jill Jarman took the audience and choirs through a brief history of Jazz from its African roots through Sprituals to Blues, Ragtime, Classic American Jazz and '60s soul. Matthew Hough's performance skill brought an amazing early piano Rag to life. Featuring both choirs with 'Chocholoza' (African welcoming song) there was the spiritual 'Balm in Gilead', Scott Joplin's 'The Entertainer', Irving Berlin's 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' and classic soul hits 'Son of a Preacher Man' and Otis Redding's 'Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay'. Autumn Classical Concert, 5 December 2009Featuring Cecilia McDowall's: Magnificat this was a rip roaring concert of Handel's well loved Choruses from Zadok the Priest (Coronation Anthem), 'Sing unto God' and, of course the perennial favourite, the Hallelujah from The Messiah. Also featured were 'The People shall Hear' (from Israel in Egypt) and 'The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba'. Chamber Choir Concert, 7 November 2009At the Church of the Ascension, our Chamber Choir was well received where they performed a mixed programme of choral and a cappella music with organ accompaniment in aid of the 70th Anniversary Appeal. 'Summer of Love' Jazz Concert, 12 July 2009Along with the Addison Trio with the violinist Elizabeth Edwards the Jazz Choir sang 'Let's Do It', 'Only Time', 'My Romance' and an inspirational version of the Andrew Sisters show stopper 'Mr Sandman'. The Jazz Ensemble songs included 'It Had to be You', 'All of Me', 'Sweet Georgia Brown' and 'Lover Man'. Jodie Paxton sang the hauntingly beautiful 'I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again'. Summer Classical Concert 11 July 2009The music for the concert revolved around folk and traditional music. The Chamber Choir sang arrangements of English folk-songs by Timothy Salter - 'Blow the Wind Southerly', 'The Trees so High' and 'The Tailor & the Mouse', all well-known, and these versions treated the originals with loving respect. John Rutter's realisations of traditional children's rhymes 'Five Childhood Lyrics' presented more well-known tunes in stylish and witty transformation, culminating in a virtuoso arrangement of 'Sing a Song of Sixpence'! Britten's 'Flower Songs' set 'floral poems' by English poets with that composers acknowledged genius. The Oratorio Choir also sang folk-songs seen through the eccentric imagination of Percy Grainger - 'The Lost Lady Found' (from Lincolnshire), 'Ye Banks & Braes' (for singers and whistlers!) and 'Australian Up-Country Song' (sung in tribute to at least one member of the choir), whilst the gentlemen gave the first performance of 'The Hunt is Up' - a recently discovered song for male voices & piano duet. John Gardner turned to the words of well known hymns for inspiration in his 'Five Hymns in the Popular Style' in which the choir were joined by bass, percussion & piano duetists. There can't be many treatments of such texts as 'Abide with Me' and 'Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning' that sounded quite like this! Finally, a folk inspired classic 'Misa Criolla' by the Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez, full of the energetic rhythms and exotic sounds of Latin America. 'Blue Bossa' Spring Jazz Concert, 29 March 2009It has been just over fifty years since the Bossa Nova syncopated its way into our musical lives and this Brazilian sound was The Jazz Choir celebrated at our spring concert. The choirs performed songs like 'Once I Loved' and 'No More Blues', written by Antono Carlos Jobim, the 'Father' of the Bossa Nova style. There were some old favourites such as 'Blue Skies' and 'What a Wonderful World', alongside some newer classics including 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin and 'All Night Long' by Lionel Richie. The choir was delighted to have the fantastic percussionist Jeff Lardner join the Addison Trio and heard plenty of Brazilian magic in this hot and up-beat concert. The Jazz Choir was conducted by Jill Jarman and the Jazz Ensemble by Matthew Hough. Classical concert, Saturday 21 March 2009The Bernardi Chamber Orchestra and four excellent young soloists join the Oratorio Choir to perform two major and contrasting works, Beethoven's Mass in C and Lux Aeterna by Lauridsen. The American composer Morten Lauridsen has in the last decade become one of the most widely performed of living composers. 'Lux Aeterna' was written in 1995 in response to the death of his mother, and focuses on warmth and consolation. Lauridsen writes: 'Lux Aeterna is an intimate work of quiet serenity that expresses hope, reassurance, faith and illumination.' Beethoven had little time for organised religion, feeling he had no need for the church to come between him and his God. He composed only two Masses, the great Missa Solemnis written towards the end of his life and the 'Mass in C', commissioned by Hungarian Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy in 1807 for the name-day of his wife, Princess Maria. Unfortunately the rehearsal time was inadequate for the premiere and the Prince was clearly not impressed. He was heard to ask: 'But Beethoven, what is this that you have done now?' He later admitted that he thought the work 'ridiculous and detestable'. Beethoven, apparently, stormed off in a rage. It was not until the late 1800s that the Mass became more regularly performed and although some say it is overshadowed by the Missa Solemnis it contains moments of great drama and beauty. Carol concert, 18 December 2008This was a first for us: a concert featuring all four choirs of the Addison Singers, with around 120 singers taking part. The programme included performances of Jill Jarman's Voices of Change by the Jazz Choir and Ensemble, Mathias's A Boy is Born by the Chamber Choir, and Chilcott's The Twelve Days of Christmas, as well as a selection of popular carols for choir and audience. An enormously enjoyable, sociable and festive evening. Classical concert, 13 December 2008The main work in this concert was Britten's St Nicholas, performed by the Oratorio Choir with guest appearances from tenor and treble soloists and semi-chorus. The Chamber Choir sang a selection of carols including a premiere, and the Oratorio Choir also sang Vaughan Williams?s Fantasia on Christmas Carols and an arrangement of The Twelve Days of Christmas by the choir's President, Bob Chilcott. Read a review of the concert. 'Voices of change' - winter jazz concert, 29 November 2008This performance, by the Jazz Choir, Jazz Ensemble and Soloists with the Addison Trio, included lots of old favourites such as 'Georgia on My Mind', 'God Bless the Child' and the Burt Bacharach classic, 'Walk on By'. The finale was Voices of Change, a new piece composed by Jill Jarman, conductor of the Jazz Choir, for voices accompanied by piano, bass and sax. 'The highlight of the evening was Jill's beautiful, moving and uplifting composition, Voices of Change'. Read more about Voices of Change. Classical concert, 12 July 2008A new venue for our summer concert: the Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair, where an enthusiastic audience heard a varied programme that included
Jazz concert 5 April 2008'A handful of keys' - - performed by the Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio, conducted by Jill Jarman (Jazz Choir) and Matthew Hough (Jazz Ensemble). Programme also included How sweet it is to be loved by you, Stella by starlight, In the wee small hours of the morning, Lady be good, My funny valentine, Quiet nights of quiet stars, How deep is the ocean. Classical concert Saturday 29 March 2008A capacity audience filled St Michael's Church to hear the Addison Singers perform the Mozart Requiem, with the Bernardi Orchestra and four young professional soloists. The Chamber Choir sang Three Motets by Cecilia McDowall, the Nunc Dimittis by Holst, and Three Motets by Howard Skempton. We were delighted to have both Cecilia McDowall and Howard Skempton in the audience. The programme also included Joby Talbot's setting of the Ave Verum Corpus and Touch Light by Michael Berkeley. Read the review by Janet Obi-Keller ( Head of Music @ City Lit.) on the ChiswickW4 website (opens in new window). Jazz concert 9 December 2007'An evening with Glen Miller' - performed by the Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio, conducted by Jill Jarman (Jazz Choir) and Matthew Hough (Jazz Ensemble). Classical concert Saturday 1 December 2007Rutter - Mass of the Children Summer jazz concert, 1 July 2007'From the American songbook' - the programme included Fields of Gold; The Boy from New York City, Hit me with a Hot Note, Love Walked In, and many more great numbers. Summer classical concert, 24 June 2007This well attended concert, conducted by David Wordsworth, took place at The Bush Hall - a new venue for the Addison Singers. The lighter-than-usual programme featured, from the Chamber Choir, folk-song arrangements by Copland and Canteloube and English part-songs from the 16th and 20th century performed by the Chamber Choir. The Oratorio Choir gave spirited performances of some well-known operatic choruses by Bizet and Verdi, and some new arrangements of Gilbert & Sullivan songs. In addition, Matthew Hough performed as solo pianist as well as accompanist, and guest soloist Alice Hyde (soprano) sang a selection of William Bolcom's Cabaret Songs. 'All That Jazz? spring jazz concert, 1 April 2007This performance by the Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio was conducted by Jill Jarman (Jazz Choir) and Matthew Hough (Jazz Ensemble). Addison Jazz presented a great selection of favourites for jazz-lovers, ranging from Kern's 'All the Things You Are', Porter's 'I've Got You Under My Skin', Weill's 'Mack the Knife', the Manhattan Transfer classics 'Java Jive' and 'Operator' to Mandell's 'The Shadow of your Smile' and Garner's 'Misty'. There was a touch of gospel too, with a semi-improvised version of 'Amazing Grace' and Oscar Peterson's 'Hymn to Freedom' and of course the title song,'All That Jazz'! Spring classical concert, 31 March 2007At this concert the Chamber Choir gave the world premiere of a new piece by Gavin Bryars, commissed by the Addison Singers: 'A la dolce ombra de le belle frondi', from his Fourth Book of Madrigals. They also performed John Rutter's new and very beautiful setting of the 'Ave Maria', and continuing the choir's association with Howard Skempton, his setting of words from the Song of Solomon, 'Rise up, my love'. They also sang Purcell's anthem for double choir, 'Hear my prayer, O Lord'. The Oratorio Choir performed Finzi's stirring anthem, 'God is gone up'; 'The Beatitudes', by the Addison Singers' President, Bob Chilcott; and Haydn's 'St Nichoas Mass', written to celebrate the name-day of his patron Prince Nicolaus Esterhazy on 6 December 1772. In preparation for the Addison Singers' trip to Poland in May, both choirs sang works in Polish: the Oratorio Choir a psalm setting by a remarkable Renaissance composer, Waclaw of Szamotul, while the Chamber Choir sang 'Three Lullabies' by the contemporary composer Henryk Gorecki. The choirs were conducted by David Wordsworthand accompanied by Matthew Hough - organist. 'Take Five' - winter jazz concert, 10 December 2006The Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio were conducted by Jill Jarman (Jazz Choir) and Matthew Hough (Jazz Ensemble) in a programme that included 'Take Five', 'Misty', 'Birdland', 'You're Everything', 'Walk between the Raindrops', 'Feeling Groovy', and 'Honeysuckle Rose'. Winter Classical Concert, 2 December 2006In this concert, conducted by David Wordsworth, the Oratorio Choir and Chamber Choir were accompanied by the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra. The imaginative programme consisted of both the familiar and the new, including the world premiere of an arrangement of the traditional American carol 'Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head' by Bob Chilcott, the world renowned choral conductor/composer and President of the Choir. The Addison Singers were joined by children from St John Baptist Primary School in Bromley for Chiswick composer Cecilia McDowall's Christmas cantata 'Christus Natus Est', a colourful collection of carols newly arranged and brightly orchestrated. The Chamber Choir sang unaccompanied works by Poulenc and Martland, and the concert's rousing conclusion was some of the most popular seasonal choruses and arias from Handel's Messiah. Summer Classical Concert, 8 July 2006Oratorio Choir Chamber Choir The concert also included a cello solo by Jonathan Few and an organ solo by Edward Kemp-Luck. 'Divas of Jazz', 2 July 2006Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio - programme included 'When sunny gets blue', 'I wish I knew,' 'The Way You Look Tonight', 'Get happy'. "The energy and enthusiasm of conductors Jill Jarman and Matthew Hough are infectious, and I have never left one of their concerts without feeling exhilarated." (Richmond and Twickenham Times, 28 July) 'Hit the road, Jack', 2 April 2006In an evening inspired by Ray Charles the spring concert given by the Jazz Choir and the Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio included: 'Hit the road, Jack', 'St Louis blues', 'My blue heaven', 'Smile', 'He's got the whole world in his hands', 'Stormy weather', and a rousing performance of 'Route 66'! Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 25 March 2006The Oratorio Choir accompanied by the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra sang Haydn's Mass in Time of War (Paukenmesse), with a quartet of soloists from the Royal College of Music, and also a new work, The Listening Tree, by Jill Jarman - one of the Addison Singers' Anniversary commissions. "We especially enjoyed the Haydn piece. The combined choir and orchestra blended so well. The conductor did a magnificent job all through the piece." (a member of the audience) The Chamber Choir performed Palestrina's Stabat Mater, Howells' O Salutaris, and a new work, The Great Breath, by Howard Skempton, another of the Addison Singers' Anniversary commissions. Jazz Choir and Jazz Ensemble, 11 December 2005Jazz Choir Jazz Ensemble Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 10 December 2005Oratorio Choir Chamber Choir Oratorio Choir, 20 November 2005, New YorkAround fifty members of the choir took part in a concert at Carnegie Hall, New York, at the invitation of Bob Chilcott, performing his 'Jubilate', and Handel's Coronation Anthem 'The King Shall Rejoice'. Read more about the Addison's Carnegie Hall concert. Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 9 July 2005Oratorio Choir - music for voices and brass: Chamber Choir Jazz Choir and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Quartet, 3 July 2005This concert at Hammersmith Town Hall paid tribute to great jazz songs with lyrics about places or travel. The Ensemble sang of Basin Street Blues, the Ray Charles classic Georgia, and Manhattan, while the Choir took a trip somewhere over the rainbow, heard a nightingale singing in Berkeley Square, and asked 'fly me to the moon'. The Addison Quartet, featured the liquid sounds of Mark Alloway?s saxophone and clarinet. The conductors of the Jazz Ensemble and Choir, Matthew Hough and Jill Jarman, also joined the band on piano. The concert included the premiere of 'London in the rain', a new song showcasing the lyric writing talents of Stella Barnes (winner of the Addison lyric competition), set to music by conductor and composer Jill Jarman. Jazz Choir and Jazz Ensemble - 'Let there be love', 20 March 2005This concert in the Polish Centre Theatre was a sell-out, and a reviewer called it 'a well organised, slickly arranged, top quality performance' - read more. Jazz Choir Jazz Ensemble *Arrangements by Jill Jarman Classical - Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 19 March 2005This well-attended concert at the Church of the Holy Innocents in Hammersmith was accompanied by Matthew Hough on organ, and featured singers from both choirs as soloists. We were delighted to have the composer Howard Skempton in the audience. His piece 'He wishes for the Cloths of Heaven', was beautifully sung - twice - by the Chamber Choir: it was encored, by popular demand. Oratorio Choir Chamber and Oratorio Choirs Chamber Choir Christmas 2004The Addison Singers were invited to sing at two Christmas events in West London, a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Peter's Church, Fulham, and a Carol Concert in aid of the charity Colon Cancer Concern. Jazz concert, 1 December 2004The programme for this concert included some arrangements by Keith Roberts, its former conductor, and also a surprise piece for Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Choir and audience! A piano, bass, guitar and jazz violin quartet accompanied the choir and ensemble. Jazz Choir
Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 27 November 2004This concert had a local flavour with 'Ave Maris Stella', a beautiful piece for soprano solo, choir and strings by Cecilia McDowall who lives close to St Michaels & All Angels where the concert took place. The Addison Singers again joined forces with the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra, a highly accomplished group who contributed two orchestral pieces to the programme. Oratorio Choir Chamber Choir
Jazz concert, 15 July 2004Jazz Choir
Jazz Ensemble
Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 10 July 2004Oratorio Choir
Chamber Choir
In May 2004 the Chamber Choir and Jazz Ensemble had additional performances, at the Shipley and Barnsley Festivals. Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 3 April 2004Oratorio Choir - with the Hanwell Children's Choir and accompanied by organ, harp and percussion:
Chamber Choir
Jazz Fiesta, 28 March 2004For this Latin flavoured concert, the Jazz Choir and Ensemble were joined by the Martin Blackwell Quartet. Jazz Choir
Jazz Ensemble
Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 13 December 2003Oratorio Choir, with the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra
Chamber Choir
Jazz Concert, 7 December 2003Ragtime, soul, musicals, pop, French and Spanish songs, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, lots of Cole Porter, some smooth bluesy classics, and All That Jazz! Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 12 July 2003The Addison Singers were joined by members of the Walbrook Singers and Ealing Youth Choir for this concert, entitled Music for Royal Occasions: Oratorio Choir
Chamber Choir
Jazz concert, 18 July 2003Jazz Ensemble
Jazz Choir
Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 5 April 2003Oratorio Choir with The Bernardi Chamber Orchestra
Chamber Choir
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