Carmina Burana

On Saturday 23 March 2019 7.30pm
at the Banqueting Suite Newcastle Civic Centre

Newcastle Choral Society and the NCS Chamber Choir

Musical Director Mark Anyan had a blast with

Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’

Our soloists were stunning!

Austin Gunn Tenor

Lisa Swayne Soprano

Philip Smith Baritone

David Murray and Eileen Bown provided the accompaniment, on two pianos, and also performed Lutoslawski ‘Variations on a Theme of Paganini for two Pianos’ which was breathtaking!

We were joined by a choir of schoolchildren from St Godric’s RC Primary School Durham and St Stephen’s RC Primary School Longbenton. They behaved impeccably, sang their own pieces beautifully in the first half and gave that extra lift to Carmina Burana. Lovely comments were received from the Head Teacher of St Godric’s:

‘A great experience that will inspire the children for years to come! We were so well looked after and everyone was so kind to us.’

and from the Deputy Head of St Stephen’s ‘It was a pleasure to be involved and such an experience for all of the children and their families.’

From an appreciative audience member: ‘Carmina was amazing, a ‘tour de force’ and the children’s input to the whole concert, brilliant’.

We were all very happy!

David Whetstone, former Culture Editor of the Journal was kind enough to give us a lovely review. This can be viewed here

‘A Christmas Celebration’

NCS Chamber Choir was born June 2018

Our Christmas 2018 concert was held on 15 December, forecast to be dire weather later in the afternoon and sure enough it was!  Arctic blasts transformed the roads and pavements into sheets of ice! Singers living in  farflung places and prospective audience members decided it was safer to stay at home. Nevertheless, for the hardy folk who turned out undeterred, we thank you! It was a super night, much appreciated by the audience.  NCS Chamber Choir, newly formed in the summer,sang an Appalachian Carol which was well received.

‘ A cappella group Quintessential Voices brought traditional and modern elements to the concert in their own inimatable way.

The pay bar and the complementary mince pies went down a treat. Trinity Church Gosforth is such a great venue and we were, as always,  well looked after by their staff and volunteers.

Britten ‘War Requiem’

Roderick Williams Baritone

BRITTEN ‘WAR REQUIEM’

Newcastle Choral Society (NCS) was delighted to be the guest choir of Cleveland Philharmonic Choir (CPC), along with Northern Spirit Singers for this magnificent performance held in Sage One on Saturday 10th November 2018.

We joined the Choristers of Durham Cathedral and St Peter’s Church Stockton, Cleveland Philharmonic Junior Choir, and the Mowbray Orchestra. The acclaimed soloists were the magnificent baritone Roderick Williams, his voice deemed by an audience member to be ‘like melted chocolate’ wonderfully expressive tenor Mark Padmore and thrilling soprano Rachel Nicholls who sat amongst the choir. The Conductors were led by the commanding John Forsyth MBE, Gary Matthewman, and Daniel Cook, Master of the Choristers, Durham Cathedral. The details of the concert can be viewed here

A wonderful evening and a thrill to perform alongside CPC!

We sang to a hugely appreciative audience totalling 1111 and received rapturous applause as well as many post concert plaudits!

…“fantastic, marvellous performance, most impressive, never boring. Well done!

...Astonishing’ ‘Astounding’’ A triumph’ ‘Magnificent’…

Easter recruitment

recruiting NOW

Step forward  if you have:

• experience of singing in a choir
• the ability to read music or a good ear to learn quickly
• the ability to hold a line in multi-part music
• a love of singing and socialising and happy to be auditioned. A short and informal process!

What can you expect as a member of NCS?

• Expert Musical Direction
• Access to Vocal Training
• Professional approach, but also Sociable
• Be part of a Great Musical Tradition
• Sing with Professional Soloists and Orchestras in Prestigious Venues

Look what’s coming up:

‘Summer Thyme’ Sat June 30th Trinity Church Gosforth

And the BIG one! NCS as Guest Choir alongside Northern Spirit Singers

Britten’s War Requiem  at Sage One Gateshead on Sat Nov 10th 2018 at 7.30pm

Cleveland Philharmonic Choir

Conducted by  John Forsyth MBE

JOIN NOW to be able to take part!! View pdf here Easter Recruitment

Contact:  Tel: 0191 286 6338 or 01207 560555  email: enquiries@newcastlechoralsociety.org.uk

Start ?      Monday 16th April 2018 19.30 -21.30

Where?    Church of St John the Evangelist
                    Kingston Park Avenue
                    Newcastle upon Tyne NE3

NB  Sat 21st April at Church of St John the Evangelist – a multimedia War Requiem presentation 10 -1pm by John Forsyth

Dream of Gerontius

Newcastle Choral Society

Musical Director Mark Anyan

Elgar ‘Dream of Gerontius’

Saturday 24 March 2018, 7.30pm
Banqueting Suite Newcastle Civic Centre

Stephanie Lewis Mezzo Soprano

Adam Tunnicliffe Tenor

Philip Shakesby Bass

Orchestra North East

Elgar considered The Dream of Gerontius  to be his finest work. Indeed it might be regarded as the greatest piece of music ever written by a British composer. Based on a poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman, the piece relates the journey of a man’s soul from his death bed, where he is attended by friends and a priest who pray for him in his last moments of life.

After death a Guardian Angel conducts his soul past demons and angels to the presence of God for judgement, and thence to the tranquillity of Purgatory to await a glorious re-awakening. The concert was well received by an appreciative audience. The work called for three soloists who represented respectively Gerontius, Priest and Angel. Adam Tunnicliffe was deemed to be ‘sensational’ as Gerontius and the rich voice of Stephanie Lewis gave depth and emotion to the role of the  Angel. Philip Shakesby’s resonant bass voice gave power to the role of the Priest. There was a double chorus which incorporated a semi-chorus, portraying friends, demons and angels at various stages of the drama. Orchestra North East were superb and provided a wonderfully varied palette of sounds throughout the work, enhancing each phase of the journey.View pdf here