 |
Bristol Choral Society
is a leading Bristol choir. Our members are passionate about singing and we all look forward to the buzz of our Wednesday evening rehearsals at the University of Bristol in Tyndall Avenue.Bristol Choral Society is a mixed chorus of around 180 auditioned members with an age range of 15 to 70.
Under our distinguished Music Director, Adrian Partington and multi-talented Assistant Music Director, Steven Kings – who make a dynamic partnership – we expect and achieve high standards. We perform at least four concerts a year, usually at the Colston Hall, Bristol, with nationally renowned soloists and professional orchestras—often the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
 |
| Bristol Choral Society rehearsing Rachmaninov Vespers in Bristol Cathedral with soloists Nick Perfect and Kate Woolveridge (left) and conductor, Adrian Partington (right). |
Bristol Choral Society often receives invitations to sing outside Bristol—most recently from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus, and the BBC National Chorus of Wales. Many of the chorus have enjoyed singing under the famous batons of Sir Charles Mackerras, the late Richard Hickox and Christoph von Dohnanyi at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and The Royal Festival Hall, London.
Following our memorable 2007 performance in Gloucester Cathedral of the stunning Rachmaninov Vespers, we were delighted to have the opportunity to sing it again in March 2009 – this time in Bristol Cathedral.
It was a very well-attended and special concert and we raised £1,146 for The Chernobyl Children's Lifeline. Thank you to all who gave so generously. This money will enable three Chernobyl Children to travel to the UK to spend four weeks with British families this summer.
Bristol Choral Society ended their season with the June Concert, AMERICA!, accompanied by Bath Philharmonia and soloists, Maria Kesselman (soprano), Alison Dunne (mezzo soprano), and Denver Martin Smith (baritone). Steven Kings played the flambouyant piano part in Lambert's jazz-influenced Rio Grande and the conductor was Adrian Partington. The evening began with Copland's trumpet-blazing Fanfare for the Common Man, leading into the American-themed evening with Bernstein's sparky Candide Overture and Sousa's Liberty Bell (for Monty Python fans!) The choir sang unaccompanied versions of Ol' Man River and Barber's poignant Agnus Dei. The second half of the concert was devoted to Gershwin's songs from Porgy and Bess, for chorus, soloists and orchestra, with Summertime, I Got Plenty o' Nuthin' and It Ain't Necessarily So.
 |
| Bristol Choral Society apprentices 2008-9 with |
| Adrian Partington (left) and Steven Kings (right) |
Bristol Choral Society Apprentices
 |
| Bristol Choral Society performing Messiah at their native Colston Hall Bristol |
As well as an active programme
of outreach work with primary
schools, Bristol Choral Society
has an apprenticeship scheme for
teenagers.
Contact: Sally Seaman.
Would you like to join us?
Entry to the choir is by audition but we encourage prospective members to join us for a
few rehearsals to get a feel for it. If you would like to join, please contact Frances Roberts.
| Latest News | ||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Latest Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
This beautiful work virtually disappeared from the choral repertoire following its highly successful performance in 1915 until it re-emerged in 1971. One of the major reasons conductor Adrian Partington gave for this was the tremendous challenges posed by the complexities of the music.
