TWO of Chester’s top choirs are set to perform this week at venues in the city centre.
Chester Bach Singers, regarded as one of the UK’s top chamber choirs, will kick off their 2024/25 season with a concert entitled ‘Journeying Together’ at the Wesley Church Centre in St John Street at 4pm on Saturday, October 19.
With its theme of pilgrimage in its many different forms, seeking, searching and journeying towards the unknown, the concert will feature music by composers including Ralph Vaughan Williams, Richard Wagner, Guiseppe Verdi, Eleanor Daley, Pietro Mascagni and Martin Bussey, the choir's musical director.
Pieces set to be performed include 'The Pilgrim's Chorus' from Tannhäuser, 'Va Pensiero' from Verdi's Nabucco, and Mascagni's 'Cavalleria Rusticana', one of the best known and much-loved pieces of classical music in the world.
The concert will mark the final season as conductor for Martin Bussey who is standing down in March next year after an impressive 38 years of service to the choir.
Speaking about the concert, Helen Crich, the Chair of Chester Bach Singers said:
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming our audience back after our summer break as we stage the first concert of our new season. The concert reflects the idea of the human journey in its broadest sense, with an emphasis on seeking and searching. It encompasses music sung by the medieval pilgrims on the road to Santiago di Compostella in Spain along with later, Renaissance music based on the psalm ‘Like as the hart desires the waterbrooks’.”
More information on the performance and ticketing, can be found at: www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk.
Meanwhile, final preparations are also underway for a concert at Chester Town Hall which will feature one of Chester's top male voice choirs performing alongside one of North Wales' topflight brass bands.
The concert, staged by Chester Male Voice Choir, will see it joined on stage by the Royal Buckley Town Band for the choir's Autumn Festival Concert on Wednesday, October 16 at 7pm.
The concert will feature songs from the shows, marches, light classical music and much-loved favourites from the repertoires of both the choir and band. Chester Male Voice Choir will be directed by Joe Mann, accompanied by pianist Helen Jackson.
Established in 1822, Royal Buckley is one of the oldest known brass bands in Great Britain. It is one of only four brass bands to proudly have the 'Royal' title bestowed.
The band performs all styles of music, from traditional brass band repertoire to arrangements of modern pop songs and more. Royal Buckley play at many concerts, fetes, galas, civic celebrations, contests, charity events, rugby & football games throughout the year.
Formed in 1941 as The Cestrian Male Voice Choir, Chester Male Voice Choir is an award winning and much sought-after choir with a repertoire comprising an eclectic mix of musical genres. Since its first overseas tour to Prague in 1971 the Choir has undertaken concert tours abroad to Germany, Holland, the United States of America, France and Malta and has also toured extensively in the U.K.
Speaking about the concert, Ron Webster, the Chairman of Chester Male Voice Choir said: “We are once more delighted to be hosting our Autumn Festival Concert at Chester Town Hall on the evening of the 16th of October. We are especially pleased to welcome as our special guests The Royal Buckley Town Band. We are all very much looking forward to this special evening of music as we join forces with one of the best bands in this part of the world. In collaboration with our guests, the evening will be full of fun and excellent music provided by the Chester Male Voice Choir led by our Musical Director Joe Mann.”
Ron added: “We take every opportunity to encourage others to sing with us, so please, if you feel that singing in a male voice choir is something you have been meaning to try, just come along and enjoy the concert and talk to us on the evening, we would love to see you there.”
Full details of Chester Male Voice Choir's Autumn Festival Concert can be found at www.chestermalevoice.com where tickets can be booked online.
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