Friday, 18 February 2011

A Timely Reminder from Powderham

Organist George Pratt has kindly reminded me about yet another wonderful concert coming up:

Divertimenti Ensemble.
Powderham Castle Friday 25 February 7.30pm
Soprano Josie Walledge.
Counter-Tenor Laurence Blyth
Vivaldi: Gloria
Pergolesi: Salve Regina (Walledge)
                Stabat Mater (Walledge, Blyth)
Vivaldi: Sinfonia al Santo Sepolcro (Divertimenti)
Tickets: £14  Box: 01626 890243 (Mon-Fri 9-5)




The 1769 Organ in the Music Room


1769 Organ Recital in the Music Room

Date: Friday 25 February 2011
The forthcoming concert, presented by the Trustees of the 1769 Powderham Castle Organ Restoration Fund will be a modern-day 'World First'. A performance of Vivaldi's Gloria as he must have intended it. It will be explained fully in the programme notes but, to whet your appetite, the conundrum is that Vivaldi wrote it solely for the girls of the Orphanage in which he worked, yet scored it for four-part mixed choir.  So where did the tenors and basses come from?  All will be revealed on February 25th!
The Gloria is arguably the second most popular work of its era, after Handel's Messiah.  A little less familiar, but exquisitely beautiful and moving, are two vocal pieces by Pergolesi. In a life tragically cut short at the age of 26, he was becoming one of the most expressive and compelling opera composers in Naples.  When he transferred this dramatic sensitivity to sacred music, the results were truly moving. 
Josie Walledge will sing his Salve Regina, and she'll be joined by countertenor Laurence Blyth in his Stabat Mater.  They'll be accompanied by the Divertimento Ensemble, who will also play a curious two-movement orchestral piece by Vivaldi, his Sinfonia al Santo Sepolcro.
During the interval there will be time to wander round the Castle rooms and enjoy a glass of wine in front of the fire in the State Dining Room.These concerts are regularly sold out so please book your tickets in advance. 
Tickets are £14 and can be purchased from the Estate Office 01626 890243 Monday to Friday during office hours.     Concert starts at 7.30pm

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