Christmas Concert On Saturday 21st December 2024 we had our annual Christmas Concert in Christ Church Oswestry We had a large and appreciative audience who sang the wel known carols with great enthusiasm..
Our choir items were varied, and included Martin's own arrangement of 'A Yorkshire Wassail' and his medley of Christmas songs.
The concert included two of the Poulenc Christmas motets, which are not easy, but the choir took them in its stride.
There was a lovely selection of modern carols, including Will Todd's 'My Lord has Come', which was so popular last year that we repeated it. Others included carols by Malcolm Archer, Alan Bullard and Cecilia McDowall. The deserving audience was served with wine and mincepies, as usual.
Chilcott Requiem On the 26th October 2024 the choir performed the Chilcott Requiem, which was popular with the choir and the audience. It was good to learn the Gorecki 'Totus Tuus', which was unfamiliar with most of us, and the Bruckner Motets are always challenging but enjoyable The Dream of Gerontius The choir looked out on a packed Chester Cathedral on 2nd March 2024 as they sang Elgar’s epic work ‘Dream of Gerontius’. For this prestigious work Cantiones was joined both by Chester Bach Singers and Chester Philharmonic Orchestra, along with sublime professional soloists Kathryn Rudge (Mezzo Soprano - The Angel),
James Platt (Bass - The Priest) and Joshua Ellicott (Tenor - Gerontius), along with an organist. Elgar originally called for three choirs for this huge work but everyone felt the two choirs acquitted themselves exceptionally well. READ MORE To see a video clip of 'Praise to the Holiest' from the Dream of Gerontius in rehearsal, CLICK HERE
40th Anniversary Concert On 5th July 2022 Cantiones presented Joseph Haydn’s ‘Creation’ with The Border Orchestra at The Holroyd Theatre in Weston Rhyn. The musicians were joined by exceptional professional soloists, Holly Teague (Soprano), Tom Kelly (Tenor) and Andrew Randall (Baritone) The choir was joined by various former members of the choir for this event.This joyous work chosen for the choir’s anniversary was first performed in 1799, and is thought to have been inspired by the oratorios of Handel which Haydn enjoyed during his visits to England in the late 1800s. This masterpiece depicts and celebrates the creation of the world in all its beauty and is beloved by singers and audiences alike. Every seat at The Holroyd Theatre was sold and the audience was joined by Councillor Jay Moore (Mayor of Oswestry) and Diana Flint (Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire), below, left. Also in the audience was Michael Smith, the founding Musical Director of Cantiones.