The choir take a bow at Kings Place, 13 Dec 2019.
Tenebrae’s busiest ever month and one which sees the choir perform at no fewer than 22 engagements, including concerts in Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and of course the UK.
It has been a December to remember, mostly for wonderful musical reasons but also one sad one, namely we said goodbye to our dear friend Henry Southern, our General Manager, who after four brilliant years is leaving us to seek pastures new. We do welcome however Alexandra Davies who I know is going to be great and keep me on my toes with new and imaginative programmes…
In November, a small team of 6 of us sped off to Italy to perform Gesualdo’s extraordinary setting of the Tenebrae Responsories. In the Wimbledon Festival it was a delight to share the concert with the Brodsky Quartet. A rare chance to sit back and listen to them deliver an exquisite performance of Haydn’s Seven Last Words.
In December, another group of 6 of us headed off to Switzerland and Germany for performances of our programme featuring arrangements by Bob Chilcott and Alexander L’Estrange amongst others. After being close to the point where I felt I should once and for all hang up my vocal chords I came away having had so much fun with my colleagues that I’ve decided to carry on for just one more year… Sorry guys!
Our Associate Artists, Beth, Lissie, Benedict and Owain, plus two other singers, Fiona Fraser and Ben McKee, set off to spend a couple of weeks in the South of France. By the time they head for home they will have given 12 concerts in the surrounding towns and villages of Marseilles. Even by the time the full group got out to Marseilles we were already hearing fantastic reports about the AA team having impressed all their audiences not only with their vocal and musical expertise but their spoken French, announcing all of the programme!
Quick appearances at St Bartholomew the Great, Mary and Jeffrey Archer’s parties, Le Manoir in Oxfordshire and our last concert in the UK at Kings Place meant we weren’t left with much time to do all of our Christmas shopping but now at least we can head for home and start preparing the turkey!
From myself, Henry, Esther and Charlotte in the office and all of our superb singers we wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Roll on 2019!