Just over a year ago, on Saturday 18th January 2020, the choirs of Chigwell School travelled West to perform at the prestigious Cadogan Hall. Little did we know, that this was to be the last formal large-scale concert before the affect of Covid-19 and lockdown restriction took hold.
We are excited that the repertoire plans for Chigwell School's Choral Concert for later this year have just been released by Mr Howard Ebden, Director of Music.
It includes for the first time, orchestral pieces alone, which will give an opportunity for pupils across the School (as appropriate) to join with the professional orchestra ‘en masse’ which will also include the School's percussionists and 'drum-line'.
The concert will open with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture Op.96, before making way for some of the greatest opera choruses including, from Il Trovatore ‘Vedi! Le fosche notturno spoglie’ (better known as the Anvil Chorus), ‘Squilli, echeggi la tromba’, ‘Or co’dadi , ma fra poco’. This will give the added excitement of learning some Italian for all. From Madame Butterfly ‘Vogliatemi bene (Mona Lisa)’ – also known as the Humming Chorus. In addition Chapel Choristers, past and present will sing Alexander L’Estrange’s ‘Magnificat’. The winner of the School’s ‘Young Musician of the Year’ competition, 2020 Avantika Bharadwaj will perform Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.2 in F Op.102. The orchestral finale will feature the stirring, colourful and evocative Pini della via Appia (The Appian Way) from Respighi’s Pini de Roma (Pines of Rome).
It is envisaged that this will be the largest concert undertaken from the music department at Chigwell School, providing opportunity for the wider school community; pupils, parents, staff, friends, alumni (Old Chigwellians) and some of our local Junior and Prep Schools to come together once again and celebrate making music.
Any queries, please direct to the Director of Music, Mr Howard Ebden at hebden@chigwell-school.org.
