Choir’s season to end with war tribute

THAME will continue to Remember as Lord Williams’s Festival Chorus plans to close its season with a final  tribute to the war dead on December 6.

John Gibbons

Just three weeks ago, along with the Ealing Symphony Orchestra, the choir performed Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man’ to rapturous applause at an extraordinary performance prepared for Remembrance Weekend.

Musical Director, John Gibbons, former chairman of British Choral Music, was keen to continue the centenary theme before the year closed.

“Whilst the Armed Man is one of the most famous contemporary pieces, there is also something incredibly powerful about music written by those who actually experienced the conflict,” he said.  “The piece, ‘Morning Heroes’ by Arthur Bliss, was written to help the composer dispel the nightmares he was still experiencing 10 years after the war had ended. It felt appropriate that we respect and bring such a piece to life all these years later.”

Narrating during ‘Morning Heroes’ will be BBC broadcaster, Charles Nove. He spent 12 years as the voice – and was the occasional face, of BBC TV’s Come Dancing, and his tones have also been heard on many TV trailers and game shows.

Also joining the performance will be the Ealing Symphony Orchestra who will again be performing with the choir. The full programme will be completed with the triumphant piece,  ‘I Was Glad’, by Parry, and Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812 Overture’.

The concert will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday, December 6, at Thame Leisure Centre. Tickets cost £13 (concessions £10 and Under 18’s £5) and can be bought from Cargo, www.lordwilliamsfestivalchorus.org.uk, or call Rosemary on 01844 344083.