Choir of Clare College:
Recent Performances & Reviews
Clare College Choir on stage at the '800 Gala' in Gotham Hall, Broadway, New York City - Saturday 5th December 2009
Tuesday 16th March, 17:00
Evensong at Westminster Abbey
Introit: Miserere nostri Thomas Tallis
Versicles and Responses: William Byrd
Psalm: 39
Canticles: Sumsion in A
Anthem: Emendemus in melius William Byrd
The choir rounded off the Lent Term in style with Evensong in Westminster Abbey, followed by a reception hosted by Canon Nick Sagovsky (former Dean of Clare). The event was especially fitting given Tim Brown's connection with the Abbey, where he began his musical training as chorister.
Sunday 14th March, 19:30
'Requiem in Blue' - Harvey Brough
Great St Mary's, the University Church
James Maddren drums
Alec Dankworth bass
Lynda Sayce theorbo
Tom Arthurs flugelhorn
Joy Smith harp
Clara Sanabras voice and baroque guitar
Caitriona O'Leary voice
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Hills Road Sixth Form Chamber Choir (Jass Saunders director)
Harvey Brough director
To celebrate the release of the album Requiem in Blue by former Clare student, Harvey Brough, Clare teamed up once again with Hills Road Sixth Form to give a moving a memorable performance of this extrordinary piece, written in memory of Harvey's brother (a former Clare choral scholar).
The concert also saw Clare perform i carry your heart, Harvey's setting of words by e.e. cummings.
Thursday 11th March, 18:30
Joint Evensong in the Chapel of St John's College
The Choirs of Clare and St John's Colleges
Versicles and Responses: Kenneth Leighton
Psalm: 60
Canticles: Noble in a
Anthem: Lo, the full, final sacrifice Gerald Finzi
Hymn: 94
Directed by Andrew Nethsingha and Timothy Brown
Saturday 16th January 2010, 20:00
Benjamin Britten War Requiem
King's College Chapel, Cambridge
Jane Irwin soprano
Andrew Staples tenor
Ashley Riches baritone
Cambridge University Music Society
The Choristers of Jesus College
The Chapel Choirs of Clare, Christ's, Jesus and Selwyn Colleges
David Hill conductor
Friday 8th January 2010, 18:00
Benefactors' Concert, Clare College Chapel
The choir sang a pre-prandial concert to guests at the College Benefactors' Dinner. The programme included performances of two Hebrew songs learnt whilst in Israel, Sheleg al Iri ('Snow on my town') and Eli, Eli, shelo yigamer le'olam ('Lord, may these things never end').
ISRAEL TOUR: Tuesday 22nd - Thursday 31st December 2009
JS Bach Christmas Oratorio
Ye'ela Avital soprano
David Feldman countertenor
Simon Wall tenor
Jonathan Sells baritone
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
The Israel Camerata
Timothy Brown director
Tel Aviv Museum of Art - 25th-27th December
Rappaport Auditorium, Haifa - 28th December
Henry Crown Symphony Hall, Jerusalem - 29th December
Peforming Arts Center, Karmiel - 30th December
Clare Choir performed 6 sold-out concerts of Christmas Oratorio across Israel, with the Israel Camerata and Tim Brown.
"[The choir's] singing of the choruses was fresh, exacting, fired with energy, well punctuated and articulate; Brown’s attention to text, dynamics, diction, language pronunciation and phrase-endings is reflected in the enthralling performance of this choir." The Jerusalem Post
Wednesday 16th December, 19:30
The Christmas Story
St John's, Smith Square Christmas Festival (brochure)
Under the baton of Clare alumnus and noted interpreter of Heinrich Schütz, Sir Roger Norrington, Clare College Choir performed the luscious double-choir Magnificat and evocative Christmas Story. This was complemented by performances of newly-commissioned carols by Giles Swayne (Clare composer-in-residence), Tarik O'Regan and John Rutter, directed by Tim Brown. The concert was well-received by a packed audience at St John', Smith Square.
Schütz Deutsches Magnificat *
Buxtehude Jesu meine Freude
Jennifer Ashworth, Maud Millar soprano
Christopher Webb bass
Swayne O Mysteria (new commission)
arr. C. Brown Stille Nacht
Rutter The King of Blis (new commission)
arr. T. Brown King Jesus hath a garden
O'Regan The Great Silence (new commission)
Cressida Sharp soprano
Schütz Weihnachtshistorie (The Christmas Story) *
Eleanor Caine Angel
Mark Dobell Evangelist
Nicholas Mogg Herod
The Schütz Ensemble (Margaret Faultless leader)
Ashok Gupta organ
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Timothy Brown director
* Sir Roger Norrington director
Tuesday 15th December, 18:30
Thy Kingdom Come: Words and Music for Advent
Christ and St John, Isle of Dogs, London
USA TOUR: Friday 4th - Thursday 10th December 2009
5th December - Cambridge 800 Gala
The Choir of Clare College was fortunate enough to perform at the exclusive
Cambridge '800 Gala' in Gotham Hall, Broadway, New York, in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor and many famous alumni. Further information and images of this extraordinary evening can be found here.
7th December - Christ Church, Greenwich, CT
A concert of Advent music
The choir performed an concert of Advent music at Christ Church, Greenwich, now home to former Clare organ scholar, Simon Thomas Jacobs.
The programme included new works by Giles Swayne, Tarik O'Regan and John Rutter, as well as first-year music undergraduate Thomas Neal's submission to the Clare Advent carol competition, Veni redemptor gentium.
8th December - Grace Church, Newark, NJ
A service of words and music for Advent
The choir sang a beautiful service for Advent, with music including Weelkes Hosanna to the Son of David and Britten A Hymn of St Columba.
Friday 13th November 2009, 20:00
Cambridge Music Festival - 800th Anniversary concert
Trinity College Chapel
The Choirs of Clare and Trinity Colleges combined with the instrumentalists of Collegium Musicum, the University's period instrument orchestra, to perform a one-off concert for the Cambridge Music Festival. The concert was part of a series of events in celebration of the 800th anniversary of Cambridge University.
As well as works by Purcell and Handel, the choirs performed A Five-Gated Well, a newly-commissioned work by Christopher Brown, setting poems by former Dean of Clare, Archbishop of Canterbury Revd Dr Rowan Williams. Both composer and librettist were present.
Purcell Jehova quam multi sunt hostes mei
Stefan Kennedy tenor
Christopher Webb bass
Tippett Lament from Divertimento on 'Sellinger's Round'
C. Brown A Five-Gated Well (world première)
Handel Ode on St Cecilia's Day
Maud Millar, Christina Sampson, Cressida Sharp
Margaret Walker soprano
Samuel Furness tenor
The Choirs of Clare and Trinity Colleges, Cambridge
Collegium Musicum (Margaret Faultless leader)
Timothy Brown director
Saturday 10th October 2009
Choir 'Retreat' to Great Gransden, Bedfordshire
The choir spent the day in the beautiful village of Great Gransden, singing Evensong in St Bartholomew's Church (below).
Thursday 10th September 2009, 17:00
BBC Radio 3 'In Tune' "Purcell Special", live with a studio audience
BBC Radio Theatre
Motets and verse anthems; 'Lament' and final chorus from Dido and Aeneas
Members of Clare Choir
Instrumentalists from The Academy of Ancient Music
(director: Richard Egarr, Cl. Organ Scholar 1980s)
Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano
Timothy Brown director
Interviews with Tim Brown and Richard Egarr
Further information on 'In Tune' can be found here.
Sunday 2 August 2009, 20:00
Cambridge Summer Music Festival
In the presence of Sir John Tavener and a full house, the Choir of Clare College Cambridge performed Ex Maria Virgine by Sir John Tavener and Faure's Requiem.
Timothy Brown conductor
Eleanor Cramer soprano
Stefan Berkieta baritone
Simon Thomas Jacobs organ
Church of Our Lady and English Martyrs, Cambridge
Northern Germany Tour 24th July - 1st August 2009
Friday 24 July 2009, 20:00
St Nikolai, Kiel
Sunday 26 July 2009, 10:00
Morning Service
Hauptkirche St Trinitatis, Altona, Hamburg
Monday 27 July 2009, 12:00
Lunchtime Recital
St. Marien, Rostock
Tuesday 28 July 2009, 19:30
St. Georgeskirche, Waren (Müritz)
Wednesday 29 July 2009, 19:30
Neubrandenburg
Thursday 30 July 2009, 13:00
Service and Concert
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachtnis-Kirche, Berlin
Thursday 30 July 2009, 20:00
Concert
St Matthias, Schoneberg, Berlin
Friday 31 July 2009, 20:00
Concert
St Matthaus, Stiftung, Berlin
Wednesday 22 July 2009, 20:00
BBC Proms Concert: Prom 8: 800th Anniversary of Cambridge University
The Choir of Clare College Cambridge performed alongside King's, Johns' Trinity, Caius and combined choirs from the Cambridge Colleges, under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis and with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, in the fastest-selling Prom concert of the season.
Vaughan Williams The Wasps - Overture
Ryan Wigglesworth The Genesis of Secrecy
BBC commission: world premiere
Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs
Stanford Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in A major
Jonathan Harvey Come, Holy Ghost*
Judith Weir Ascending into Heaven†
Saint-Saëns Symphony No.3, 'Organ'
Simon Keenlyside baritone
Thomas Trotter organ
Choirs of King's and St John's colleges
Choirs of Clare, Gonville and Caius, and Trinity colleges
Choirs from combined Cambridge colleges
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis conductor
Stephen Cleobury† conductor
Andrew Nethsingha* conductor
Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2009
"
...exemplary choral clarity made even Stanford’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in A sound thrilling.... starred firsts all round for the performers..."
Review in The Times by Richard Morrison, Friday 24th July 2009
Saturday 20 June 2009, 17:30
The sopranos of Clare Choir performed evensong with the choral scholars of King's College Cambridge, to a packed King's Chapel, for the Land Society Gala, with over 800 people present.
Music included Gibbons Second Service and Vaughan Williams O Clap your Hands.
Tuesday 2 June 2009, 18:30
Joint Evensong sung with the Choir of Gonville and Caius College & the Choir of Trinity College in Trinity College Chapel.
Music included Stanford in A and Elgar Great is the Lord
Thursday 7 May 2009, 18:30
Joint Evensong sung with the Choir of St John's College Cambridge.
Music included Dyson in D and Parry Blest Pair of Sirens.
To listen to the webcast of this service please click here.
Friday 1 May 2009, 19:30
Timothy Brown conductor
Raphaela Papadakis soprano
Jonathan Sells baritone
Simon Thomas Jacobs organ
The Schubert Ensemble
The Schubert Ensemble joined with the choir of Clare College, Cambridge, conducted by Tim Brown, for a performance of Fauré's original chamber version of his Requiem, together with Schubert's extraordinary Gesang der Geister über den Wassern for male voices and lower strings. Also in the programme was Fauré's dark and dramatic Second Violin Sonata.
King's Place Concert Hall, London
"...the Clare College Choir and soloist Raphaela Papadakis sang with great beauty..."
"...Timothy Brown's pacey direction illuminated the Requiem's often neglected dramatic dimensions rather than its more characteristic intimacy..."
Review in The Guardian by Martin Kettle, Wednesday 6 May 2009.
Friday 17 April 2009, 19:30
As part of the Cambridge Cantat 800 Festival, Clare College Choir performed an evening choral concert.
A programme featuring works by Haydn and Purcell in their anniversary years, and works written for the Choir of Clare College Cambridge.
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Timothy Brown conductor
Simon Thomas Jacobs organ
The Dolce Quartet
Clare College Chapel
Thursday 16 April 2009, 17:00
Choral Evensong
Introit: Purcell - Hear my prayer
Anthem: Purcell - O God thou hast cast us out
Canticles: Howells - Gloucester Service
Westminster Abbey
Tuesday 7 April 2009, 18:30
J.S. Bach - St. Matthew Passion
Manchester Camerata
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
The Choristers of Manchester Cathedral
Nicholas Kraemer conductor
soloists: Elizabeth Weisberg
Clare Wilkinson
Mark Le Broq
James Gilchrist
Stephan Loges
Matthew Hargreaves
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Sunday 15 March 2009, 19:00
The Choir of Clare College performed an outstanding J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion to a completely sold out audience in Trinity College Chapel - an all round success and highlight of the year.
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Clare Baroque
Timothy Brown conductor
Margaret Faultless leader
Simon Wall Evangelist
Edward Ballard Christus
Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge
Wednesday 21 January 2009, 19:30
The London Premiere of Ex Maria Virgine, a new comission by John Tavener for the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, in a concert of advent music.
Ex Maria Virgine by Sir John Tavener was commissioned by Clare College Choir, and is a very exciting new work, in which the composer explores many new and stimulating ideas. The choir has responded to the work with great enthusiasm, dazzling spirit and energy, which is summed up in their masterful performance of it. Ex Maria Virgine was warmly received by the BBC's In Tune programme on Friday, 28 November, on which the choir sang live.
Reviews of Naxos recording (8 572168): ‘Tavener remains, with Ex Maria Virgine, the choral composer of note. It is encouraging to realize that music this fine continues to be composed’…. [Ex Maria Virgine] ‘is destined to become part of the Christmas scene.’ ‘Timothy Brown, his soloists and his choir are ever alert and sympathetic to the moods of the music.’ ‘Clare Choir is outstanding throughout with a remarkable security of attack and precise intonation in chord sequences that are sometimes repetitive but never obvious.’
Programme also included:
Howells - Magnificat - Collegium Regale Service
Anon -There is no Rose
Parsons - Ave Maria
Wood - Hail Blessed Virgin Mary
Berkeley - I sing of a maiden
Terry - I saw a fair maiden
Hadley - I sing of a maiden
Swayne - Magnificat II
Tavener - God Is With Us
Timothy Brown conductor
Simon Thomas Jacobs organ
The Temple Church, London
Friday 16 January 2009, 18:10
Members of the Choir of Clare College Cambridge sang live on the BBC's In Tune, with members of Caius College Choir, celebrating the 800th Anniversary of the University of Cambridge and looking forward to an exciting London Concert in the Summer.
Sunday 28 December 2008, 15:00
BBC Radio 3 broadcast of a Christmas service featuring John Tavener's Ex Maria Virgine, a Christmas Sequence.
Friday 12 December 2008, 19:30
World Premiere
Sir John Tavener - Ex Maria Virgine, a Christmas Sequence.
Programme also included:
Howells - Magnificat - Collegium Regale Service
Anon -There is no Rose
Parsons - Ave Maria
Wood - Hail Blessed Virgin Mary
Berkeley - I sing of a maiden
Terry - I saw a fair maiden
Hadley - I sing of a maiden
Swayne - Magnificat II
Tavener - God Is With Us
Timothy Brown conductor
Simon Thomas Jacobs organ
St. John's College Chapel, Cambridge
Friday 28 November 2008, 17:00
Members of the Choir of Clare College Cambridge sang live on the BBC's In Tune in advance of the World Premiere of Sir John Tavener's Ex Maria Virgine, which they performed on Friday 12 December 2008.
Saturday 27 September 2008, 20:30
Triangle d'Orgue de Champagne & Festival Musique Sacrée
Handel - Messiah
Académie Sainte-Cécile
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Philippe Couvert director
Catherine Greuillet soprano
Christophe Laporte counter-tenor
Bruno Boterf tenor
Bernard Arrieta bass
Notre-Dame de L'Épine
Saturday 26 July 2008, 19:00
Mozart - La clemenza di Tito
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Edward Gardner conductor
Barbican Hall, London
'The Clare College Cambridge Choir were enthusiastic and crisply drilled - a textbook rendition...'
-Intermezzo (http://intermezzo.typepad.com/)
'
thrillingly fresh and feisty singing of the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge'
-Hillary Finch, The Times
Tour to Munich and Austria
Sunday 13 July 2008, 20:00
Munich Opera Festival
La Contenance Anglais
Highlighting the relationships between French and English composers from Dufay and Dunstable to Vaughan Williams, Messiaen, and Giles Swayne.
Ivor Bolton conductor
Herz-Jesu Kirche, Munich
Tuesday 15 July 2008, 19:30
Concert in Berwang Church
Simon Thomas Jacobs, Ashok Gupta, and Graham Ross conductors
Berwang, Austria
Wednesday 16 July 2008, 20:00
English Choral Music a cappella
in partnership with the Institut für Tiroler Musikforschung Innsbruck
and the Universitätschor Innsbruck (Leitung Georg Weiß)
Simon Thomas Jacobs, Ashok Gupta, and Graham Ross conductors
Basilika des Stiftes Stams
Stams, Austria
Saturday 19 July 2008, 20:00
Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik
A programme of French and English choral music from the 15th to the 21st century.
Timothy Brown conductor
Hofkirche, Innsbruck, Austria
Saturday 22 March 2008, 19:30
Concert for Holy Saturday
Messiaen - Apparition de l'église éternelle
Poulenc - Litanies de la Vierge noire
Poulenc - Organ Concerto
Messiaen - Trois petites liturgies de la présence divine
David Briggs organ
Matthew Schellhorn piano
Peter Stevens organ and celeste
Jacques Tchamkerten ondes martenot
Choral Scholars of Clare and Gonville and Caius Colleges (ladies voices)
Members of the Dante and Maggini Quartets
Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra
Stephen Cleobury conductor
King's College Chapel, Cambridge
1 December 2007
Harvey Brough - Requiem in Blue
Harvey Brough director
http://www.harveybrough.com/
14 November 2007
London Bach Society
Diamond Jubilee Concert
Joh. Michael Bach - Sei lieber Tag willkommen
Joh. Christoph Bach - Der Gerechte, ob er gleich
Joh. Ludwig Bach - Das ist meine Freude
Tavener - The Lamb
Timothy Brown conductor
11 November 2007
Evensong Broadcast for Remembrance Sunday
BBC Radio 3
Bryan Kelly - For the Fallen
Tim Brown - Responses
W Denis Browne - Evening Service in A
Giles Swayne - The Dug-out
Graham Ross - Secret Music (premiere)
Schütz - Selig sind die Toten
Bach – Von Gott will ich nicht lassen
Timothy Brown conductor
Simon Thomas Jacob organ
16 September 2007
Encounters Early Music Weekend
When Bach met Buxtehude
Choir of Clare College & Fretwork
Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Buxtehude's Membra jesu nostri was 'so ravishingly sensuous... espescially in the throats of the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge under Timothy Brown... that most other composers would blush to be seen, let alone heard, in their company.'
-The Observer
'The aura of impressive technical training was evident in the choir’s solid performance of these works, and the soloists demonstrated a delicate tonal blend, some sensitive phrasing and a certain poise.'
-Edward Lewis, www.classicalsource.com
18 March 2007
St Luke's, Sydney Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 6NH
CONCERT TO LAUNCH LATEST NAXOS CD
OF ANTHEMS BY S. S. WESLEY
Ascribe unto the Lord
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
Wash me throughly
Cast me not away from thy presence
The wilderness
Stainer - The Crucifixion
Timothy Brown & Dr Christopher Robinson conductors
Simon Wall tenor
Simon Bailey bass
Timothy Harper organ
For further details
or to book Clare College Choir, please contact Christopher Webb, Choir Administrator.
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 333 206
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 333 219
|
