Ely Sinfonia, Ely Choral Society and Ely Youth Choir join together in a unique selection of music that makes the most of the magnificent space of Ely Cathedral. Vaughan Williams, the English twentieth century master, stands next to Beethoven, the early romantic titan. Between them is Bob Chilcott, one of the most prolific and celebrated choral composers of today.
What could be more different than Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Greensleeves and his Serenade to Music, the first combining two traditional English songs and the second an exquisite piece written in 1938 to celebrate Henry Wood’s jubilee as a conductor?
Beethoven’s 8th Symphony is happy, bouncy, humorous and enigmatic, poking fun at convention from its start through to its triumphant ending. Described as “one of the shortest, weirdest, but most compelling symphonies of the 19th century” (The Guardian), it certainly fulfils Beethoven’s promise in a letter to a friend that “music ought to strike fire from the soul of a man”.
Bob Chilcott’s gentle, prayerful Canticles of Light shows the influence of ancient plainchant, echoing Ely’s historic monastic worship. Ely Youth Choir will add a direct link to those medieval days singing atmospheric quasi-plainsong melodies.
Finally, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia couldn’t be a more marked contrast to the other choral works of this concert. We revisit the praise of music in an unashamedly ebullient fantasy for piano, chorus and orchestra. It could be a sketch for the finale of Beethoven’s Choral (9th) Symphony preceded by a cadenza stolen from one of his piano concertos, played by virtuoso pianist Natalia Williams-Wandoch.
The concert will be jointly conducted by Steve Bingham and Andrew Parnell.
On 28th June you are invited to a special concert by the Bingham String Quartet, with local clarinettist Koren Wilmer.
All ticket proceeds from this concert are in aid of Ely Sinfonia, and it promises top be a very special evening of amazing music, so do come along if you can!
Future concerts
Our Autumn concert in 2023 will be on Saturday September 23rd and will include the Organ Symphony by Camille Saint-Saens and Ravel’s iconic Bolero.
Ely Sinfonia Newsletter
The latest copy of our newsletters (July 2022) can be found here!
Ely Sinfonia Cards for sale!
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Charity Status and Gift Aid Form
To download a copy of the Ely Sinfonia gift aid form, both for members to complete (if not already done so) or for those kind enough to make a donation to the orchestra, please click here. This will download a Word document, so once you have clicked the link, please look at the bottom of your screen to find it. Please do remember to tell us if your tax status changes and we are no longer able to claim gift aid on your donation.
Registered Charity Number 1161642
Friends of Ely Sinfonia
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Click here to download past and present Friends’ newsletters.
If you wish to give us the gift aid on your membership fee or to make a donation, you can download a gift aid form by clicking here. This will take you to a link for downloading a Word document. Click on this link and then look at the bottom of your screen to find the form.
We look forward to seeing you at our concerts and workshops.
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