Sea SymphonyRalph Vaughan Williams

Here we are in the wake ofour sensational joint concertwith Harpenden Choral Soci-ety, A Sea Symphony byVaughan Williams. Thechoir sang their heartsout to produce a mostamazing performance.The audience were cap-tivated by the sheervolume of the choirand orchestra andthe story telling andemotions evokedby the music andthe libretto.

We engaged the orchestralservices of Kings Sinfonietta andwhat with them numbering circa 45,the choir circa 130 and the excellentacoustic of the Coptic Church, thesound was unbelievable.

Huge thanks to everyone who had apart in the organisation of what wasa superb concert.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composedThe Requiem Mass in D minor, K. 626in Vienna in 1791, and it was left un-finished at the composer's death on5 December the same year. A com-pletion dated 1792 by Franz XaverSüssmayr was delivered to Count Franzvon Walsegg, who had commissionedthe piece for a Requiem service tocommemorate the anniversary of hiswife's death.

Süssmayr later claimed the Sanctusand Agnus Dei as his own. Walseggprobably intended to pass the Re-quiem off as his own composition,as he is known to have done withother works. This was frustrated bya public benefit performance forMozart's widow Constanze who wasresponsible for a number of stories

surrounding the composition of thework, including the claims thatMozart received the commissionfrom a mysterious messenger whodid not reveal the commissioner'sidentity, and that Mozart came tobelieve that he was writing the requiemfor his own funeral.

Austin’sWe are delighted to welcomeAustin’s as our sponsors for 2017.

Future Events 2017...Mozart RequiemStevenage Festival 17 June atGordon Craig Theatre Stevenage

Puccini Messa Di Gloria 11 November at St. Andrew & StGeorge Stevenage

Figgy Pudding - A feast of seasonalingredients for Christmas. 16 December TBC

Welcome to our current newsletter.

So, having sailed over the horizon with the Sea Symphony,we completely change tack and look forward to ourSummer concert which is part of the Stevenage Festival.The Choral Society is thrilled to be joining forces withthe Stevenage Symphony Orchestra to perform thepowerful Sussmayers adaptation of the Mozart Requiem.

Intriguing and mysterious, this famous piece provides afascinating and emotionally stirring auditory experience.It is eleven years since the Stevenage Choral Society last performedthis amazing work and we're excited to start on it anew.

Tickets are now on sale for, the Gordon Craig Box Office and you canbook using the link on our website www.stevenagechoral.org.uk.

As usual our invitation to past Society members to return and singwith us is open and we would love to see you again. Similarly if you'rereading this newsletter and are tempted to join us, come along to arehearsal at the Stevenage Music Centre, the Nobel School on Mondayevenings at 19.45 You'll be very welcome!

For information about the choir, events etc please go to:www.stevenagechoral.org.uk or find us on Facebook.

Chorus Lines...Welcome to Chorus Lines our New Quarterly Newsletter - Fullof information about concerts, rehearsals, events and the choir...

Intriguing andmysterious...“ “

Ralph Vaughan Williams

A Sea Symphony

Stevenage Choral Society • Harpenden Choral Society

Saturday 25 March 2017

7:30 pm

Coptic Church

Broadhall Way

Stevenage SG2 8NP

www.stevenagechoral.org.ukwww.facebook.com/StevenageChoral

Chair’s Chat...

Gill Brown

Mozart Requiem

Stevenage Choral Society - our roots...SCS has a history dating from 1950 when it was founded as StevenageMusic Society. The first president and a very active founder memberwas Elizabeth Poston, who’s centenary was recently celebrated.

During the 1950s the Society pre-sented concerts, both by its ownchoral and orchestral groups, andby professional performers manyof whom were friends of Elizabeth.

By the mid 1960s the Music Societyorchestra was flourishing underthe baton of Peter Wigfield and thechoir had become a small chambergroup. However, in 1968 a newindependent choir emerged and"Stevenage Choral Society" gave itsfirst concert. The rest is history...

Stevenage Choral SocietyConductor : Robin Osterley

Stevenage Symphony OrchestraConductor : Phillip Brunton

Gordon Craig Theatre - Stevenage17 June 2017 7.45pm

Tickets £9.00 : GCT Box O�ce - www.gordon-craig.co.uk

or visit www.stevenagechoral.org.uk

Mozart Requiem& Orchestral Melodies from theWorld of Ballet and Opera

SCS is Sponsored by: