Members of Medina Community Choir, Gurnard Community Choir and The NHS Nightingales have returned from New York, where they performed Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall as part of a massed international choir.
The 3 Isle of Wight-based choirs, all directed by Hannah Brear, will be performing the piece again for local audiences on Saturday 19th July at 19:00 and Sunday 20th July at 15:00 at Newport Minster.
The concerts will be accompanied by a professional orchestra and will feature a programme of classical favourites, including Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, Mozart’s Ave Verum, and Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, among others.
Choir Director, Hannah Brear, has said:
“We were the only choir from Europe to be selected to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York. It was a huge honour and privilege to sing in such an awesome venue and it will be extra special to perform these absolute classics at home at The Minster to island audiences.
“All pieces, including the Fauré, have been specially arranged and orchestrated by James Longford for our bespoke, world-class professional orchestra, featuring double basses, horns, violins, trumpets, timpani, percussion and organ.
“We will also have special guest soprano, Thea Callaghan, who will be performing the Pie Jesu as part of the Requiem amongst other guest solo performances during the concert.
“We have kept ticket prices deliberately low as we want as many people as possible to enjoy what we have been working so hard on for 7 months. The choirs have never sounded better and to perform and hear these epic classical pieces that are only usually performed on the radio, music platforms or CDs sung live in the beautiful setting of The Minster, will be an experience to treasure for a long time, for both the singers and the audiences.”
Article continues below this advertisement
A retiring charity collection will be held at each concert in aid of The IW Wave Project. There will also be a hamper raffle and refreshments available, raising funds for The Minster’s community work and the Medina Community Choir equipment and music fund.
Tickets are £10 each or 4 for £36 and can be booked online at www.mcctickets.co.uk. Further information on Medina Community Choir can be found at www.medinacommunitychoir.org.uk.
