Why not sing to be part of your local history by experiencing the excitement of being part of a choir for the dramatic choruses of Mozart’s famous Requiem?
As part of the celebrations of the City’s heritage this month, Leeds Festival Chorus is organising a Come and Sing event at Leeds Minster on Saturday 19th September, beginning with a sign-in and music pick-up at 1.30pm, continuing with a rehearsal and concluding with an informal performance at 7.30pm which should last for about an hour.
You’ll be in good company: the rehearsal will be under the direction of the Chorus’s Conductor and Artistic Adviser, Simon Wright, and you’ll have the chance to hear the voices of four talented soloists from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester: Sophie Akka, Jemima Gray, Brennan Alleyne and Edward Wenborn. Alex Woodrow will be on the organ.
It would be helpful if you have previous experience of singing in a choir but it is not essential. Everyone is welcome, even if you just turn up to be part of the audience on the evening.
Leeds Festival Chorus is a solid part of Leeds’ history because its first performance was in front of Queen Victoria in 1858 at the opening of the recently-built Town Hall, where the Requiem has been heard many times. It is music which has become much more than a part of a Catholic liturgical tradition at funerals.
You will probably know that Mozart was not able to finish it (the Austrian composer Süssmayr did that) and that he died soon after writing just a few bars to begin the most famous section, Lacrimosa. This is recognisable by masses of people who might not know where it originates, because it has been used in a number of well-known films, not just Amadeus but also, for example, Primal Fear and The Big Lebowski where the Lacrimosa is used to brilliant effect because of the contrast between the solemn music and the film’s darkly comic atmosphere.
If you would like to attend, email [email protected] with brief details of previous singing experience.
Details of the Chorus’s concerts for the rest of the year can be found at: leedsfestivalchorus.co.uk.
Main image: Leeds Festival Choir Come Sing.
