Addison Singers host two pre-Christmas concerts with our support

If you need an antidote to the pre-Christmas frenzy, the Addison Singers can provide it with two exciting concerts

First up will be the Addison Oratorio Choir and the Brandenburg Sinfonia as they perform an evening of works by Haydn on Saturday (24 November). Staged at St Peter’s Church in 89 Southfield Road, Chiswick, the event begins at 7.30pm and is supported by Horton and Garton. The choir – which draws its membership from across west London – will sing the celebratory Te Deum in C, written for Empress Maria Theresa; a tuneful, vigorous hymn of praise, accompanied by trumpet and drums. Also on the bill is Haydn’s last major work Harmoniemesse. “The nickname derives from the score including important parts for wind instruments, as in Haydn’s day a wind band was known as a harmony band,” explained Susan Bartholomew from the singers. “The sheer joy of Haydn’s response to the text of the Mass gives us, on the one hand, music of unrestrained joy, and on the other music that verges on the eccentric, including a quirky setting of the Benedictus that has to be heard to be believed!” In between those works, trumpeter Paul Archibald will join the Brandenburg Sinfonia for a performance of the uplifting Haydn’s trumpet concerto, one of the first pieces of its kind written for the then new-fangled instrument. The concert is conducted by the singers’ music director David Wordsworth, who said: “We are very excited to once again be performing alongside the Brandenburg Sinfonia, and the wonderful acoustic of St Peter’s will add particular magnificence to Haydn’s dramatic fanfares in the Te Deum and the Harmoniemesse.” Tickets are £12 in advance (U16s £3) from wegottickets or on the door. For more details, visit: www.addisonsingers.com

All that jazz from Addison Singers

The following week sees the Addison Singers present a concert of gospel, spirituals, early jazz and more contemporary songs in St Andrew’s Church next Saturday (1 December). The Addison Singers’ concert – titled ‘The Spirit of Jazz’ – takes place at the church in Greyhound Road, West Kensington, at 7.30pm. The concert is supported by Horton and Garton. “It’s that time of year again, and we have been rehearsing hard ahead of our next concert,” said Viv Graves from the singers. The event features not only the Addison Singers’ Jazz Choir, but also the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Trio. She describes it is a ‘musical journey from early spirituals to more recent hits’, allowing the audience to hear, side by side, the spiritual Precious Lord Take my Hand, and Soon and Very Soon, sung to the modern hit Rise Up. “They will also be able to hear the gospel/spiritual influence in such songs as Lean on Me and We Shall Overcome,” said Viv. An uplifting, toe-tapping evening is promised with the 50-strong women’s jazz choir and the auditioned mixed-voice ensemble coming together with a band of talented musicians. Tickets are £10 in advance (U16s £3) or on the door. For tickets or more details, visit: www.addisonsingers.com