Past Concerts – Autumn 2018 to the present
Sunday 28th October 2018 at 6:30pm at The Victoria Theatre, Wards End HALIFAX HX1 1BP
AUTUMN CLASSICS CONCERT
VIVALDI: Gloria
MOZART: Vesperae Solennes de Confessore
GABRIELLI: In Ecclesiis
A rich musical odyssey from late-Renaissance Gabrieli via Baroque Vivaldi – and arriving at Mozart’s Classical elegance! Each composer was a master in his time – renowned and revered ever since.
In Ecclesiis showcases Giovanni Gabrieli’s consummate mastery of Venetian polychoral writing (a style which evolved to exploit San Marco’s twin choir lofts). Gabrieli was one of the most influential musicians of his era and represents the apex of music of the Venetian School at the transition between the Renaissance and Baroque styles
Antonio Vivaldi was Venice’s famous Red Priest who wrote for the all-female music ensemble of the orphanage of the Ospedale della Pietà (which nonetheless was able to provide fine voices in all four parts!) – and also for his rich use of melody and incisive musical drama. The Gloria moves through its 12 short sections with inexorable conviction, engaging pace and musical momentum.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was hailed as the supreme dramatist and quintessential exponent of Classical era elegance and poise. His Vesperae Solennes de Confessore contains all the supreme musical drama we love so much in his operas with rich writing for the soloists.
Hot on the heels of our fabulous bicentenary season, this concert marks the advent of Halifax Choral Society’s third century of unbroken performance.
Soloists: Charlotte La Thrope (soprano), Emma Stannard (alto), Bertie Yates (tenor), David Hall (bass)
Music director John Pryce-Jones
with The North of England Classical Orchestra
Sunday 25th November 2018 at 6:30pm at The Victoria Theatre, Wards End HALIFAX HX1 1BP
THE 200th MESSIAH
The Society invites audience members who have sung the Messiah previously, or who have good part-singing experience, to join with us for some of the great choruses (your own score will be required, Watkins-Shaw edition preferred). See section below
Halifax Choral Society gave its first performance of Handel’s incomparable masterpiece The Messiah in 1818. We have given at least one annual performance every year since then.
With soloists:
Catrin Pryce-Jones soprano
Katie Stevenson mezzo-soprano
Hiroshi Amako tenor
Samuel Carl bass
Tickets from Victoria Theatre, from the Box Office in person or by phone 01422 351158, or via https://victoriatheatre.co.uk/victoria/visit/booking or on the door
Music director John Pryce-Jones
Sunday 2nd December 2018 at 6:30pm at The Victoria Theatre, Wards End HALIFAX HX1 1BP
CAROLS AND BRASS With Black Dyke Band
Halifax Choral Society’s annual feast of Christmas cheer and music of every kind with many-times world champion Black Dyke brass band. Bradshaw Primary School choir will join us on stage as our special guests.
Tickets from Victoria Theatre, from the Box Office in person or by phone 01422 351158, or via https://victoriatheatre.co.uk/victoria/visit/booking or on the door
Music directors: John Pryce-Jones and Nicholas Childs
Saturday 11th May 2019 at 6:30pm at Brighouse Central Methodist Church
THE St JOHN PASSION by Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach’s St John Passion is one of the greatest works by a composer often regarded as the father of Western music. It tells the graphic story of the events leading to the crucifixion of Christ. In a series of glorious musical episodes, beautiful chorales, arias and choruses are interspersed to sustain the ‘pace’ of an epic, almost cinematic, telling of perhaps the greatest of bible stories. [The ‘passion narratives’ tell the story of Jesus’ arrest in Gethsemane and his crucifixion and burial]
Conductor – John Pryce-Jones
Orchestra – North of England Classical Orchestra
Soprano – Catrin Pryce-Jones Mezzo – Helen Charlston
Tenor – Ruairi Bowen Bass – Will Frost
Tickets (inclusive of booking fees) £16.50 Adult; £5.50 under 16s
available online at: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/463960 [also on the door]
Ecce Homo – Behold the Man (Antonio Ciseri 1821–1891) Pontius Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd
an exhibition by Halifax Photography Society.
Beginning Saturday May 11th (official opening at 2pm) and running until Sunday 23rd June 2019 at the Photography Gallery, Dean Clough, Halifax HX3 5AX (the gallery is open from 9am until 7pm daily). Admission Free
This exhibition showcases photographs taken by Halifax Photographic Society members during the bicentennial season of Halifax Choral Society. These pictures are the result of a unique collaboration between the two societies and were taken over a 14 month period during 2017 & 2018.
Exclusive and wide ranging access was given to the three photographers involved who recorded a very special set of images spanning live concerts, CD recording sessions, presentations and rehearsals.
These historic pictures have already been published in a 100 page, limited edition photobook (of which a few copies remain and may be on sale at Dean Clough). Now this exhibition will showcase to the public the work of one society focussing on the work of the other!
Recording the Holy Face at Huddersfield Town Hall, summer 2017 with members of Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Yorkshire Youth Choir (in the balcony to the left) and Black Dyke Band. One of the unique bicentenary occasions captured by the Photographic Society
Sunday 9th June 2019 at 3pm at Sheffield City Hall
Joining Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus as their guests in
THE HOLY FACE by Philip Wilby and PARADISE by Paul Mealor
St John The Baptist (Michelangio da Caravaggio 1571–1610)
Halifax Choral Society is delighted to have been invited to join forces with Sheffield’s premiere choir and the Yorkshire Youth Choir to sing Philip Wilby’s The Holy Face, with a group of splendid soloists. The singers will be accompanied by the world-famous Black Dyke Band in this concert premiere of Philip Wilby’s new oratorio for three choirs, brass band and organ. Commissioned by the Society to celebrate our Bicentenary, the work was written for orchestra or brass band accompaniment, and last season the same three choirs premiered the orchestral version in Halifax, and recorded the brass band version with the Black Dyke Band. More details (preface from the vocal score) and buy the recording.
The Holy Face tells one of the great bible stories – the life of St John the Baptist, last of the old testament prophets and a contemporary of Jesus. St John the Baptist is the patron saint of the town of Halifax, whose name is said to be derived from old English meaning ‘Holy Face’. Hence this fantastic new work refers both to the Saint and to the town that carries a form of his name.
Also on the programme will be Welsh composer Paul Mealor‘s new work ‘Paradise‘ (premiered by Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus with Black Dyke Band in Manchester last season as part of the prestigious RNCM Brass Band Festival). Paul Mealor came into the public eye when his motet ‘Ubi Caritas et Amor‘ was performed at the Royal wedding in 2011, and Chorus and Band recorded ‘Paradise’ for what is likely to prove a very popular new CD to be released later in the year.
Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Halifax Choral Society with Yorkshire Youth Choir
Brass Band – Black Dyke Band with Dr. Nicholas Childs
Conductor – Darius Battiwalla
Soprano – Catrin Pryce-Jones Alto – Emma Stannard
Tenor – Richard Rowe Bass – Jerome Knox
Sunday 13th October 2019 at 6:30pm at The Victoria Theatre, Wards End, HALIFAX HX1 1BP
Halifax Choral Society was joined by Glasgow’s famous Bearsden Choir to present the glorious, spectacularly theatrical Verdi Requiem at the Victoria Theatre Halifax.
This very special concert marked the farewell appearance of our illustrious conductor and Music Director of more than three decades, John Pryce-Jones.
Conductor – John Pryce-Jones
Orchestra – North of England Classical Orchestra
Sopranos – Judith Howarth and Catrin Pryce-Jones Mezzo – Yvonne Howard
Tenors – Nicky Spence and Elgan Llŷr Thomas Bass – Gidon Saks
This concert was generously supported by the Community Foundation for Calderdale.
Giuseppe Verdi Anton Bruckner
CAROLS and BRASS with BLACK DYKE BAND
Sunday 1st December at 6:30pm at The Victoria Theatre, Wards End, HALIFAX HX1 1BP
Our annual jamboree of Christmas music new and old. Carols and Brass marks the true beginning of the Festive Season – great music and great fun with our audience, and with our old friends Black Dyke Band. Joining us will be our guest children’s choir from Bradshaw Primary School.
Special Guest Conductor – Darius Battiwalla
and with – Black Dyke Band
Tickets from Victoria Theatre: from the Box Office, or by phone 01422 351158, or via Victoria Theatre Carols and Brass tickets , or on the door. Prices range from £2.00 for under-18s in certain areas to £25.00 – please consult Victoria Theatre website ‘Book tickets’ pages or ask staff when booking.
Winter Landscape with Skaters by Hendrick Avercamp in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam