Kingston Choral Society Summer Concert 24th June 2023

Saturday 24th June 2023 7.30pm (Open rehearsal 2.30-4pm)
St Andrews Church, Maple Road, Surbiton KT6 4DS

Join with Kingston Choral Society at 7.30pm in celebrating midsummer with music on the theme of light.

Conducted by Andrew Griffiths, with Gavin Roberts accompanying, This Shining Night combines the beautiful harmonies of Samuel Barber, Morten Lauridsen and Bob Chilcott with the genius of Schubert’s piano music and Four Partsongs.

Kingston Choral Society (KCS) returns to St Andrew’s Church  to present a midsummer concert celebrating and reflecting on the beauty and consolation of light. The concert features two musical adaptations of text from a poem by James Agee.  US composers Samuel Barber and Morten Lauridsen both named their beautiful songs Sure on this Shining Night. Bob Chilcott’s triptych Canticles of Light completes the first half. With its opening of tolling bells, this piece is darker in character.  Parts one and two are hauntingly lovely prayers for comfort through the night. Brightness returns in part three of the, as a hymn to morning and renewal.

After the interval the choir and musicians will celebrate the songs and piano music of Schubert. In a real treat for the audience, the highly acclaimed KCS regular accompanist, Gavin Roberts, will be joined by their multi—talented Musical Director, Andrew Griffiths, for Schubert piano duets.

The choir will then return for the finale. The spirited Four Part Songs are among the best of Schubert’s lesser-known repertory for mixed voices.  Light – both literal in the ‘splendid rays’ of the sun – and figurative, as the joys of life, are again a central motif.

Be sure to join Kingston Choral Society for what will be a sparkling midsummer occasion.

Kingston Choral Society is a registered charity. Charity number: 261522
Kingston Choral Society is grateful for the financial support of the Humphrey Taylor Richardson Charitable Trust.