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'That now are distant' at Wigmore Hall
Celebrating a woman and her beloved gay best friend, Andrew Matthews-Owen has curated a programme that interleaves Robert Schumann’s song cycle on a woman’s life and love, Frauenliebe und -leben, with songs and words by LGBTQ+ composers and poets, including Bernstein, Britten, Copland, Jonathan Dove, Nikita Gill, Jennifer Higdon, Poulenc and Rorem, and new works by Nathan James Dearden.
'suo' at Whiddon Autumn Festival 2024
We conclude the festival by bringing together all our resident performers in an enchanting celebration of Folk Song. Featuring music originating all over the British Isles and beyond, Freddie Crowley will lead Corvus Consort in choral folksong arrangements by Benjamin Britten, Simon Carrington, Harry Baker and Nathan James Dearden (last year's WAF Composer-in-Residence), as well as Gustav Holst's lovely Six Choral Folksongs, Op. 36, in celebration of Holst's 150th year in 2024.
'Three Motets' at Presteigne FestivaL
As part of the 2024 Presteigne Festival, join the Choir of Royal Holloway and cellist Alice Neary for the World Premiere of Nathan James Dearden’s Three Motets.
Featured composer at Presteigne Festival 2024
The 2024 Presteigne Festival programme offers an opportunity to hear some of Benjamin Britten’s less familiar work, contrasted with music from his contemporaries, his influences and those who, in turn, were influenced by him. The music programme includes 12 premieres of new work from an exceptionally diverse cohort of composers – Michael Berkeley, Richard Blackford, Nathan James Dearden, Michael Zev Gordon, James Albany Hoyle, Sarah Frances Jenkins, Tayla-Leigh Payne, Joseph Phibbs, Julian Philips, Lynne Plowman, Lara Poe and James B Wilson.
'messages' at Three Choirs Festival 2024
Exotic romantic fantasy infuses The Cloud Messenger, a rich sung epic inspired by Indian stories and beliefs, performed by the Three Choirs Festival Voices. Holst sets a Sanskrit poem describing how a nature spirit persuades a passing cloud to send a love message to his wife in the distant Himalayas; a remote and colourful paradise is brought to life by the music. In response, Nathan James Dearden’s exciting festival commission creates a series of choral landscapes that respond to, and set, messages from throughout history to future generations. Alongside these works, fluttering wings and scratching feet are heard in Respighi’s The Birds as the composer paints a picture of bird movements and birdsong in lively and extraordinary music.
Composers in Conversation
Nathan James Dearden chats with fellow composers whose works are being performed at this year’s festival. Get to know the faces behind the music and learn more about what it’s like to be a composer from the people themselves.
'Locus iste' at The Name of Mary Church, Novi Sad
The Founder’s Choir of Royal Holloway will be touring Serbia this summer 2024, featuring a blend of choral classics and the contemporary. As part of this tour, the choir will be premiering Nathan James Dearden’s introit, Locus iste, a work especially created for the choir.
'Locus iste' in Belgrade
The Founder’s Choir of Royal Holloway will be touring Serbia this summer 2024, featuring a blend of choral classics and the contemporary. As part of this tour, the choir will be premiering Nathan James Dearden’s introit, Locus iste, a work especially created for the choir.
'Locus iste' in Subotica
The Founder’s Choir of Royal Holloway will be touring Serbia this summer 2024, featuring a blend of choral classics and the contemporary. As part of this tour, the choir will be premiering Nathan James Dearden’s introit, Locus iste, a work especially created for the choir.
'nunc dimittis' with Choir of Royal Holloway
Honorary Fellowships are awarded to those who have achieved eminence and those who have made an outstanding contribution to the life and work of the University, or either of the parent colleges, or to the cause of education generally.
This performance will be part of the 2024 Honorary Fellowship Ceremony at Royal Holloway University of London.
'o'r galon' at St. David's Cathedral Festival
The Choir of Royal Holloway is now well-established as one of the leading collegiate choirs in the UK. This incredible team of 24 choral scholars and director, Rupert Gough are known internationally for their highly engaging performances and vast catalogue of stunning recordings, particularly in collaboration with Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo. In their Festival debut, they present a programme of popular orchestral music arranged for chorus, including Vaughan Williams’ ‘Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis’, Ravel’s ‘Pavane pour une infante défunte’, and a new mass setting based on Peter Warlock’s ‘Capriol Suite’ by George Arthur.
'first service' with Choir of Royal Holloway
Performer(s): Choir of Royal Holloway; Andrej Ivanovitch (organ); Rupert Gough (cond.)
Event description
Join the Choir of Royal Holloway for this special Choral Evensong in the wonderful setting of our Chapel, celebrating contemporary service settings including Nathan James Dearden's First Service. Please note that this is a liturgical service.
For further event information and to watch online, please visit the choir's dedicated page: www.chapelchoir.co.uk
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'first service' at New Sounds Festival 2024
Join the Choir of Royal Holloway for this special Choral Evensong in the wonderful setting of our Chapel, celebrating contemporary service settings including Nathan James Dearden's First Service. Please note that this is a liturgical service.
'open thou our lips' with Cardiff Polyphonic Choir
Performer(s): Cardiff Polyphonic Choir; Philip Aspden (organ); Thomas Blunt (cond.)
More information
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'hope is the thing with feathers' with CBSO Children's Chorus
The CBSO’s Annual Circles' Dinner sees Circle Members, staff and players getting dressed up for a spectacular evening at Birmingham's beautiful Hyatt Regency with music and a new commission for CBSO Children’s Choir by Nathan James Dearden.
'i breathe' at World Music Days 2023
Performer(s): Cape Town Camerata; Leon Starker (cond.)
About World Music Days
The Artistic Director of the World New Music Days 2023, composer and percussionist Lukas Ligeti, says: “The festival’s program will have three areas of focus. First, there will be the aforementioned contributions from the network’s member organizations. Second will be a look back at 100 years of history of the ISCM and, specifically, the WNMD, presenting some of the most important works of concert-music composed during the last century. Finally, and most importantly, we will provide a multifaceted survey of the lively creative activity in experimental and innovative music in Africa.”
The International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) is the premier forum for the advancement, dissemination and interchange of new music from around the world. Through ISCM, members promote contemporary music in all its varied forms, strengthening musical life in their local contexts and making their music and its creators known to world.
More information about i breathe
To find our more about i breathe or to hear it online, visit this webpage (link embedded)
'nova! nova!' with Hemiola Octet
Performer(s): Hemiola Octet; Harvey Lok (cond.)
More information
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'the way we go' at Leeds Lieder Festival 2023
Performer(s): Helen Charlston (mezzo soprano), Joseph Middleton piano)
Event information
BBC New Generation Artist, Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano) and pianist Joseph Middleton perform a programme of music by Fanny Hensel, John Ireland and Mahler in this lunchtime recital at the Wesley Centre in Harrogate.
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'o'r galon' at Royal Holloway
Performer(s): Choir of Royal Holloway; Harvey Lok (cond.)
event description
Join our Welcome Week Chorus for a concert showcasing the very best vocal and choral music Royal Holloway has on offer. We will be joined by the Choir of Royal Holloway, new and returning students, alumni, and our Director of Choral Music, Rupert Gough, for an afternoon of beautiful music to kickstart our year including Jake Runestad's The Hope of Loving.
For further event information and to book your ticket, please visit the dedicated page: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and-teaching/departments-and-schools/music/events/wild-forces-welcome-week-choral-showcase-2023/
'o'r galon' at Royal Holloway
Performer(s): Choir of Royal Holloway; Rupert Gough (cond.)
event description
The Choir of Royal Holloway's popular lunchtime concert series returns and runs all term both in-person and online here. Hear one of the finest university choirs in the UK perform varied programmes, with music from the 12th to the 21st centuries in the surroundings of the college’s gilded chapel.
This week's Midweek Music sees the return of our singers and audiences alike for a new academic year. This concert will share some musical postcards from our summer vacation: music from the four corners of Great Britain and Ireland.
For further event information and to watch live, please visit the choir's dedicated page: www.chapelchoir.co.uk
'my joy' at Whiddon Autumn Festival
WORLD PREMIERE
Performer(s): Whiddon Festival String Quartet
Event description
Join us to celebrate the timeless influence of J. S. Bach, one of classical music's most renowned figures, as we juxtapose his own vocal mastery with some of the finest contemporary reimaginings of his music.
Experience a glimpse of how Bach's exquisite music looks through other musicians' eyes, from Knut Nystedt's stunningly simple take on a Bach chorale in Immortal Bachand Harry Baker's chorale-inspired I Call To You, through to Caroline Shaw's Punctum, which takes a mere seed of an idea from Bach and stretches it out into a wonderful tapestry for string quartet.
In a programme punctuated with Bach-inspired music from our Come&Sing choir, Harry Baker also presents an improvised piano sequence based on the sixth Cello Suite, and Corvus Consort performs one of the composer's most towering vocal works in its original untouched form.
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'full of sweet days' at Whiddon Autumn Festival
Performer(s): Corvus Consort; Freddie Crowley (cond.)
Event description
Festival Director Freddie Crowley conducts Ensemble-in-Residence the Corvus Consort in a fascinating exploration of composers' responses to the poetry of 17th-century English metaphysical poet George Herbert (1593-1633).
Through a sumptuous selection of choral music by Judith Weir, Alec Roth, Roxanna Panufnik and James MacMillan, the musicians reveal how George Herbert's words have provided inspiration to a whole generation of composers.
Finally, the Corvus Consort is joined by baritone soloist George Clark, Harry Baker (piano), Louise Thomson (harp) and the Festival String Quartet, to perform perhaps the most famous setting of Herbert's poetry: Ralph Vaughan Williams's magnificent Five Mystical Songs.
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'come, and I will sing you' at Whiddon Autumn Festival
WORLD PREMIERE
Performer(s): Whiddon Autumn Festival Children’s Choir; Corvus Consort; Harry Baker (piano); Freddie Crowley (cond.)
Event description
Rising star vocalists Ellie Stamp and George Clark are joined by pianist Harry Baker and the Festival String Quartet to perform lyrical songs celebrating flora, fauna and landscape, centred around the hauntingly-beautiful Tree Carols by Sally Beamish. Punctuated with a selection of gorgeous partsongs sung by members of the Corvus Consort, the programme also features a very special guest appearance...
In the middle of the programme we welcome the very special WAF Children's Choir, made up of pupils from four local primary schools who have participated in our schools singing programme. The Children's Choir will sing reimagined versions of local folksongs, created specially for this performance by our 2023 Composer-in-Residence Nathan James Dearden.
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'That now are distant' at Fishguard Festival of Music
Performer(s): Nicky Spence (tenor); Andrew Matthews-Owen (piano)
Event description
Robert Schumann’s iconic song cycle on a woman’s life and love, Frauenliebe und-Leben, sung by Claire Booth (“an epoch-making performance – a real tour de force." Guardian) is interwoven with Nathan James Dearden’s specially commissioned responses of a beloved friend, Nicky Spence (“one of the most engaging and communicative singers around” Guardian). The concert, curated by pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen (“an immaculate accompanist” BBC Music magazine), also features songs by LGBTQ+ composers and poets, including Leonard Bernstein, Benjamin Britten, Aaron Copland, Jonathan Dove, Nikita Gill, Jennifer Higdon, Francis Poulenc, and Ned Rorem.
Book your ticket now
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'That now are distant' at Musicfest Aberystwyth 2023
WORLD PREMIERE
Performer(s): Nicky Spence (tenor); Andrew Matthews-Owen (piano)
Event description
Robert Schumann’s iconic song cycle on a woman’s life and love, Frauenliebe und-Leben, sung by Lucy Crowe (“soprano artistry beyond compare” Independent) is interwoven with Nathan James Dearden’s specially commissioned responses of a beloved friend, Nicky Spence (“one of the most engaging and communicative singers around” Guardian). The concert, curated by pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen (“an immaculate accompanist” BBC Music magazine), also features songs by LGBTQ+ composers and poets, including Leonard Bernstein, Benjamin Britten, Aaron Copland, Jonathan Dove, Nikita Gill, Jennifer Higdon, Francis Poulenc, and Ned Rorem.
Life, love and loss are explored and celebrated through a special friendship and some of the greatest songs ever written.
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'let all the world' at westekerk, Amsterdam
Performer(s): Choir of Royal Holloway; Rupert Gough (cond.)
Event description
For the second concert of our European Tour, the choir is joined by our composer-in-residence, Nathan James Dearden, to perform his setting of 'Let all the world', alongside music by Elgar, Miškinis, Locklair and Bach.
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'let all the world' at Basilica of St. Nicholas, Amsterdam
Performer(s): Choir of Royal Holloway; Rupert Gough (cond.)
Event description
For the second concert of our European Tour, the choir is joined by our composer-in-residence, Nathan James Dearden, to perform his setting of 'Let all the world', alongside music by Elgar, Miškinis, Locklair and Bach.
Find out more information
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'i sleep alone' at Beaumaris Festival 2023
Performer(s): Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone); George Ireland (piano)
Event desctiption
K. J. Nakao: He Wishes His Beloved Were Dead (W.B. Yeats)
Delyth Naya: Blossoms and Shadows (Hisajo Sugita & Hilary Tann)
Hilary Tann: Light from the Cliffs
Nathan James Dearden: I sleep alone (Kakinomoto no Hitomaro)
Shinji Inagi: Journey Through the Heart of Hitomaro (Kakinomoto no Hitomaro)
Fascinating songs by composers from Japan and Wales. For full information, please visit the festival webpage: https://www.beaumarisfestival.org
More information about i sleep alone
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'i sleep alone: Japan Tour 2023 No. 2
Performer(s): Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone); Paula Fan (piano)
More information about i sleep alone
For more information about this work, please visit this dedicated webpage (link embedded)
'i sleep alone: Japan Tour 2023 No. 1
Performer(s): Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone); Paula Fan (piano)
More information about i sleep alone
For more information about this work, please visit this dedicated webpage (link embedded)
'i breathe' with Cardiff Contemporary Music Group
Performer(s): Cardiff Contemporary Music Group; Rob Fokkens (cond.)
Event description
The Contemporary Music Group continues their project - started in 2021 - exploring music by young composers who studied at Cardiff University's School of Music and are now making their mark on the contemporary music scene in the UK and internationally.
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For more information about this event or to book your ticket, please visit this webpage (link embedded).
More information about i breathe
To find out more information about I breathe, or for a sneak peek at previous performances and recordings, please visit this dedicated webpage (link embedded).