TOP CHESTER CHOIR SET TO CELEBRATE EASTER WITH SPECIAL CATHEDRAL CONCERT

Final preparations are underway for a musical celebration of Easter which is set to take place in the historic and sacred surroundings of Chester Cathedral.

Staged by Chester Music Society Choir, "Music For Passiontide" will take place on Saturday 23rd March at 7.30pm and will feature performances of three important modern works which celebrate Easter: Malcolm Williamson's exuberant cantata 'A Procession of Palms", Gerald Finzi's 'Lo! The full final sacrifice' and Bob Chilcott's setting of 'St John's Passion'.

Joining Chester Music Society Choir for the special Easter concert will be soloists Tenor Matthew McKinney, Baritone Peter Edge, Bass Damien O'Keefe and Soprano Emily Costigan. They will be accompanied by Elysian Chamber Ensemble and Organist Graham Eccles, all under the baton of Conductor Graham Jordan Ellis.

Born in Sydney in 1931, Malcolm Williamson was the son of an Anglican priest. In 1950 he moved to London where he worked as an organist, a proofreader, and a nightclub pianist. In 1952 he converted to Roman Catholicism. His first major success was with his Piano Concerto No. 1, premiered by Clive Lythgoe at the 1958 Cheltenham Festival. Williamson was a prolific composer at this time, receiving many commissions and often performing his own works, both on organ and piano. In 1975 he was appointed Master of the Queen's Music, a post he held until his death in 2003. Williamson based his Cantata 'A Procession of Palms' on the well known hymn 'Ride on! Ride on in Majesty'.

Composed after the Second World War as an anthem for St Matthew's church in Northampton, Gerald Finzi's 'Lo! The full final sacrifice', which contemplates the nature of Christ's suffering and death, draws on the writings of 17th century priest Richard Crawshaw whose Hymn for the Blessed Sacrament is from St. Thomas Aquinas: Adoro Te and Lauda Sion and contains, in Finzi's estimation, "moments of religious emotion where he reaches an ecstasy hardly surpassed in English poetry". It was first performed at the Three Choirs Festival; the work is customarily performed in its original version, with organ accompaniment.

Originally a member of The King's Singers, Bob Chilcott is now perhaps best known as a composer who has produced a wealth of new and accessible music. His version of 'St John's Passion' consists of several different element which follow the well-known pattern established by J S Bach: a commentary by four soloists on the events leading up to the crucifixion, interspersed with interjections by the choir and chorales in the form of well-known hymns set to new music by Chilcott himself.

Speaking about the concert, John Ferrari, Chair of Chester Music Society Choir said:

"We are delighted to be presenting this special concert in the historic and sacred surroundings of Chester Cathedral as we come together to celebrate Easter and its importance in the Christian calendar with a wealth of modern British classical music. The concert promises to be a highlight of the concert season in Chester and definitely one not to be missed."

Full details of the special celebration of Easter can be found at where tickets can be bought online:

www.chestermusicsociety.org.uk 

Tickets can also be purchased at Chester Cathedral in person or by telephone:

01244 500959

Pictured - Conductor Graham Jordan Ellis.