stalbanslife

Michael Bundy

‘Verdi’s highly dramatic requiem demands a big choir and orchestra and the St Albans Choral Society will join forces with the City of Canterbury Chamber Choir and the Bushey Symphony Orchestra on Saturday 2nd July to perform the popular world at Bushey Academy at 7.30pm (SACS).’

 Under the baton of George Bass, Michael Bundy (baritone), Susie Self (mezzo-soprano), Claire Seaton (soprano) and Paul Badley (tenor) will perform at the concert.

Alison of the St Albans Choral Society says ‘Although it is Verdi’s only large-scale work not intended for the stage, the Requiem is unashamedly theatrical in style, with passages of great tenderness and simplicity contrasting with intensely dramatic sections.’
‘The first performance of the Messa di Requiem took place on 22 May 1874, the first anniversary of Manzoni’s death, in St Mark’s Church, Milan. Special permission had to be obtained from the Archbishop for the inclusion of the female choristers, who were hidden behind a screen and clad in full-length black dresses and mourning veils.’

       ’ The restrained circumstances and prohibition against applause produced a somewhat muted reaction. In contrast, the second performance three days later, at La Scala Opera House, had a tumultuous reception from the capacity crowd. The Requiem became an overnight sensation, and has been as popular with audiences all over the world ever since.’

Tickets (£16, £1 children)are available from the BSO ticket line 01923 774229. More information on www.choralsociety.com

Note; St Albans Choral Society was established in 1944 and is based in Dagnell St Baptist Church, St Albans.

Romantic Russian music comes to St Albans Abbey on Saturday June 25th with performances of some of the most colourful and passionate scores ever composed for orchestra (7.30pm). Yet neither of the major works featured by St Albans Symphony Orchestra in its Festival Concert under conductor Bjorn Bantock is as totally Russian as it seems.

Pictures at an Exhibition was composed for the piano by Mussorgsky in 1874 as a musical realisation of paintings by Victor Hartmann, an architect friend who had recently died. But the suite’s enduring popularity is largely due to the brilliant orchestration of the work that the French composer Ravel made in the 1920s – not least its stirring finale depicting The Great Gate of Kiev. Other pictures famously include a ballet of canary chicks hatching from their eggs and the fearsome witch Baba Yaga hunting children from her hut on fowl’s legs

Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony takes listeners on another tuneful and richly orchestrated journey that leads from brooding melancholy to an ardently lyrical slow movement and a  triumphant finale. Although premiered in the composer’s homeland in 1908, the symphony was actually written in Germany, during a period of self-imposed exile. Like the Second and Third Piano Concertos, its melodic inspiration has made it a firm favourite with audiences.

Completing SASO’s Festival programme will be The Enchanted Lake, a tone poem by a third Russian composer, Liadov. Although never able to fulfil his potential as a composer, his short musical account of a misty, moonlit lake is delicate and highly atmospheric.

Tickets price £20, £16 and £12 (reserved), £10 (unreserved), £1 (accompanied children) and £5 (students) are available from the SASO Ticket Secretary (01727 857422), from the Abbey Box Office (01727 860780) or from allaboutstalbans.com.

Written by David Utting, SASO

If you haven’t already heard, Marlborough School, St Albans, is set to hold it’s second Music Festival.  This ‘Glastonbury Spirit’ M-Fest will take place on Saturday July 16th from 3pm – 10.30pm and promises to be a great day out for everyone. 

Live bands include WFK, Co-Jones and The Carolines, as well as Living the Dream Dance Performances and Workshops. Some of the talented students from Marlborough School will also be performing. A Pimms and Bar tent, football tournament, bouncy castle and BBQ are also laid on to be enjoyed by all.

 Richard Noden, one of the organisers, says ’The money raised will be used to pay for a Radio Station at the school – another way to let people develop their creative side.’

It was said of last year’s successful Festival, that the community and school were brought together. With their new Radio Station on air, this will certainly be the case in the future!

Family tickets cost £25, Adult £10, Student £5.  All details and bookings available on  www.marlborough-school.co.uk

As summer approaches, we can look forward to more places opening up to the public and as ever, we are surrounded by a great choice of events.

- Welcome back Clock Tower! This historic gem located near the St Albans Abbey, is reopening to the public this week.  Climb the 93 steps to the viewing platform and feast your eyes on the pretty sights of the city. Open Saturdays/Sundays/Bank Holidays (small charge applies)

- The Wizard of Oz is being performed at the Alban Arena on Monday/ Tuesday 1st/2nd May. Tel; 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk

- Chris and Pui Roadshow (from Cbeebies) at the Alban Arena on Sat 7th May. Tel 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk

- Roman Discovery Talks at the Verulamium Museum on Sat 7th May at 3pm www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

- Heartwood Forest BLUEBELL EVENT on Sun 8th May at 11pm – 3pm (self-guided trail with activities for children). see www.woodlandtrust.co.uk for history on this forest

- Beating the Bounds - ancient ceremony starting from Kingsbury Watermill in St Michael’s Village on Sun 8th May at 2pm.  This. 2 mile walk is  led by the Mayor and officers of St Albans District Council.

- St Albans Charity Cycle Ride on Sun 15th May. Starting point Oaklands College, Hatfield Rd from 8.45am See www.saccr.co.uk for full details

- HOT MIKADO – St Albans Operatic Society perform at the Alban Arena from Tues 10th – Sat 14th May. Tel; 01727 844488 or www.alban-arena.co.uk

- NOISY KIDS Concert for Children on Sun 15th May from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. More details on www.saso.org.uk

- CINDERELLA by the Vienna Festival Ballet Co at the Alban Arena on Sun 28th May at 2.30 and 7.30pm  www.alban-arena.co.uk

Many more events and updates on www.stalbans.gov.uk