On Saturday 23rd March the Westmorland Orchestra is joining the Cumbria Festival Chorus for a production of Berlioz’ “Te Deum” in Kendal Parish Church. Conductor Richard Howarth, says “It’s lovely to see two local groups collaborating for this special musical event in Kendal. On many levels it is a healthy and uplifting project for all involved. I’m looking forward to a grand occasion!”
It is 150 years since the death of French composer Hector Berlioz and to mark this anniversary two of the area’s best known music groups will be combining for a performance of this powerful choral masterpiece.
Ian Jones, director of Cumbria Festival Chorus, says that Berlioz “loved to write music on a grand, ceremonial scale imagining it always being performed in huge spaces by vast numbers of performers. For his monumental setting of the words of the ‘Te Deum’ he imagined a space with an organ at one end and the orchestra and chorus at the other. That is exactly what we have in Kendal Parish Church! We will not be able quite to match Berlioz’s number of performers but our 120-strong chorus and 60-strong orchestra will certainly be able to make the old church resound to much thrilling music!”
As well as the chorus and orchestra the piece will demand the best from the church’s fine organ, played by Andy Plowman. Acclaimed tenor Christopher Steele will also be performing and says “I am really looking forward to singing Berlioz’ excellent music, the tenor solo has wonderful, lyrical lines!”
The programme will include Mendelssohn’s 5th “Reformation” Symphony played by Westmorland Orchestra. The composer’s sister named this work as it was written to mark the 300th anniversary of the “Presentation of the Augsberg Confession” – a key event in the protestant reformation.
This concert is the first event of the 2019 Mary Wakefield Festival. This biennial Festival has been part of Westmorland’s musical life since 1885 when Mary Wakefield, daughter of a Kendal Quaker banking family and a keen musician, assembled local choirs to sing and compete together.
The concert is at Kendal Parish Church at 7.30 pm, Saturday 23rd March 2019. Tickets are £12 (free for under 19s!) and are available from Fantastic Kendal Tourist Information Centre in Finkle Street, Kendal and on the door.
Further information may be found at www.WestmorlandOrchestra.org.uk
