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April 2019

Receiving its first performance in England in 1800, The Creation tells, in three parts of (i) the Creation of Light, the Sun and Moon; (ii) the Creation of Animals, Man and Woman; and (iii) the story of Adam and Eve before the Fall.

Haydn’s music conveys a sense of life-affirming joyousness, and Wetherby Choral Society will be emphasising this in their performance on June 22nd.
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April 2019

Wetherby Choral Society heralds the 2019 Easter season with a performance of one of the most monumental and moving works in the choral repertoire:
The St John Passion by J S Bach.

Musical Director John Dunford expertly steers his choir through this wonderfully challenging work, for the singers have to adopt two quite separate roles.
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November 2018

On November 17, the Society is adding to the plenitude of musical offerings to mark the end of the Great War and to remember World War 2 with two poignant and compelling works: The Armed Man (Karl Jenkins) and Eternal Light (Howard Goodall).

Howard Goodall describes his piece as “a Requiem for the living, focusing on the consequences of interrupted lives” and provides a delicate counterpoint to the strong repetitive rhythms of the ever-popular Karl Jenkins work.  Read more...

April 2018

Wetherby Choral Society’s summer concert on June 24, under the Musical Direction of John Dunford, showcases the astonishing genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with performances of his Requiem, Exsultate Jubilate, and Solemn Vespers.

The ravishing soprano solo Exsultate Jubilate was composed in 1773 when Mozart was only in his teens. Six years later, and still only 24, he wrote the Solemn Vespers.

Just ten years later he died as he was writing his Requiem Mass that became, in effect, his own...  Read more...

January 2018

Following an extremely successful performance of "Messiah" at Christmas, for its next concert Wetherby Choral Society, under the baton of Music Director John Dunford, will present another of Handel's major masterpieces.

Handel - "Israel in Egypt"
Saturday March 24th at 7.30 pm
St James' Parish Church, Wetherby

Was there ever such wonderful musical word-painting as this? Furnished with a matchless Biblical text, Handel invites us to share in the sighs of the oppressed Israelites, to share in the revulsion of the Egyptians as their rivers turn to blood...  Read more...

May 2017

Wetherby Choral Society's March performance of Monteverdi's "Vespers" was an acknowledged triumph. More than an incentive to come and hear their next concert!

Antonio Vivaldi - Gloria
Benjamin Britten - Rejoice in the Lamb
Hubert Parry - I Was Glad
Ralph Vaughan - Williams - Five Mystical Songs
Leonard Bernstein - Chichester Psalms
Saturday, July 1st, 7.30 pm
at St. James' Parish Church, Wetherby

"Smitten!" declared Leonard Bernstein on hearing his work performed in Chichester Cathedral, "In Chichester I heard angels sing."...  Read more...

March 2017

Claudio Monteverdi - "Vespers"
Saturday, 8th April 2017 at 7.30 pm
at St James' Parish Church, Wetherby

"This is one of the most exciting things we have ever done!", proclaimed Music Director John Dunford to his choir at the start of their rehearsals after Christmas.

Described by one commentator as one of the most extraordinary job applications ever, when Monteverdi submitted his music as an audition for a post in Venice, his "Vespers" is a milestone for any Choral Society. It is a first performance for this Society and for nearly...  Read more...