Amicus Orchestra and Glasgow Chamber Choir, two of Scotland's most innovative and exciting ensembles, collaborate for the first time for a concert in the majestic surrounds of Glasgow University's Memorial Chapel. 

The concert, conducted by Michael Bawtree, will include a performance of Haydn’s thrilling Harmoniemesse and the Scottish premiere of British composer Judith Bingham’s The Christmas Truce, as well as music for wind ensemble by Richard Strauss. 

The Christmas Truce, composed in 2003, movingly tells the story of the temporary armistice on Christmas Day 1914 in the trenches of northern France. Bingham combines texts from diaries, private letters and news reports, alongside German and English Christmas carols, into a haunting meditation on that extraordinary day; the performance will fit the setting of the Memorial Chapel, itself built to commemorate members of the University killed in the Great War, perfectly. Judith Bingham, who celebrates her 60th birthday this year and will attend the performance, is one of the UK’s foremost composers of choral and orchestral music. For many years a member of the BBC Singers, she was until recently the same group’s Composer-in-Association. The Christmas Truce was premiered by the BBC Singers, Britten Sinfonia and Nicholas Cleobury.

SATURDAY 8 DECEMBER, 2012 - 7.30pm

GLASGOW UNIVERSITY MEMORIAL CHAPEL

University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ 

 

Pre-concert talk: Judith Bingham will speak about "The Christmas Truce" at 6.45pm in the Chapel

 

Serenade for 13 Wind Instruments in E flat Op. 7 - Richard Strauss

The Christmas Truce - Judith Bingham

Harmoniemesse in B flat - Joseph Haydn

 

Glasgow Chamber Choir

Amicus Orchestra

Michael Bawtree - conductor 

Tickets: £12.50 (full), £8 (concession), £5 (student) and free for under 16 yrs (if accompanied by an adult)

 

Amicus Orchestra is an exciting new chamber orchestra based in central Scotland, created by former members of Camerata Scotland. The aim of the orchestra is to bridge the gap between amateur and professional orchestras, by providing a top quality ensemble for talented amateurs, music students and professionals. www.amicusorchestra.com  @amicusorchestra 

Glasgow Chamber Choir was founded in 1994 and has developed into one of Scotland’s finest amateur choirs.  The choir’s repertoire spans from the Renaissance to the present day and has included the Scottish premiere of works by a number of composers (including Jan Dismas Zelenka, James Whitbourn, Hans Gál, Richard Busch and Judith Bingham). Recent performances include concerts in Holland and Sweden with the St Joris Kamerkoor and the Orgryte Kyrkokor. The Choir appears frequently on BBC Radio, most recently alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Cornelius Cardew’s The Great Learning. www.glasgowchamberchoir.org.uk  @GlasCChoir 

 

First published: 2 November 2012

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