Oldham Choral Society: Greater Love - A Musical Reflection for Remembrance Sunday

Date published: 19 October 2017


Oldham Choral Society: Greater Love - A Musical Reflection for Remembrance Sunday marks events that took place a hundred years ago as the mindless slaughter of the First World War, relentlessly and seemingly endlessly, moved towards its fifth, and as it turned out, final year.

The programme includes a rare performance of 'The Spirit of England' by Sir Edward Elgar, which was first performed exactly 100 years ago this month. It is a setting of three poems by Laurence Binyon including the now famous 'For the Fallen'. This is often described as Elgar’s ‘War Requiem’, and reflects on the bravery and sacrifice of those who served their country, and the futility of conflict.

It is Elgar’s final great choral work, composed around the time of his great Cello Concerto, and at a time when he felt a lone and isolated figure in a world that he scarcely recognised any more.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Elgar Society the Choral Society is able to offer free tickets to schools and  colleges, students and staff to this performance, and also to invite them to attend the final rehearsal with orchestra and soloist, which takes place at 2.00pm on the day, Sunday 12 November. This will be followed by a brief opportunity to talk about the programme with the conductor and soloist.

The rest of the programme includes other works appropriate to the occasion, including 'The Banks of the Green Willow' (Butterworth), played by the orchestra, 'Greater love hath no man' (Ireland) and a work that is new to Manchester – 'Requiem for the Living' by American composer Dan Forrest.

Dan Forrest's Requiem for the Living (2013) has had very few British performances, but has already received more than a hundred performances world-wide within a year of its composition, including performances in Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and multiple performances at Carnegie Hall

It is a 40 minute five movement work, for choir, soloist and large orchestra in a modern but very tuneful and approachable style.

Camilla Roberts a former Cardiff Singer finalist, (representing Wales) is soloist, and the 120 voices of the Oldham Choral Society are accompanied by the accomplished and highly acclaimed East Lancs Sinfonia.

The concert is 7.00pm on Sunday 12 November in the Concert Hall of the Royal Northern College of Music, with the East Lancs Sinfonia, Soloist Camilla Roberts and Conductor, Nigel P Wilkinson.

Tickets are available from the Royal Northern College of Music Box Office, booking by phone: 0161 907 5555

Box Office Opening Times: 11am – 6pm Monday to Saturday (later on performance nights) and Sunday, one hour before performances (closed on non-performance Sundays).

Booking by post: Box Office, Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RD

Enquiries by email: box.office@rncm.ac.uk

Or tickets can be reserved via the society ticket secretary on 01457 875221