Westminster Abbey Choir will inaugurate this Tuesday a series of four concerts over 12 months at Saint Stephen Basilica celebrating “the golden age of Britannia”’s music-making over the 200 years from 1500 to 1700.
The London-based, 42-strong choir of boys and professional adult singers renowned as one of the world’s leading interpreters of Anglican church music and currently conducted by James O’Donnell, tackles The Age of King Henry VIII with a programme of works by 16th-century English composers Christopher Tye, Thomas Tallis, John Taverner (not to be confused with Sir John Tavener, also an English composer but born in 1944), Robert White and William Mundy.
Martin Ford, Westminster Abbey assistant organist, will perform Byrd’s Fantasia in D BK 46 and Fancy for my Lady Nevell.
They will be followed by British a capella ensembles The King’s Singers (in October), Ensemble Voces8 (in March) and early music ensemble New London Consort (next June).
The Ticket
Westminster Abbey Choir
Tuesday 25 June at 8pm
Saint Stephen Basilica
District V, Szent István tér.
Tickets HUF 4,500-7,000 (passes for the four concerts: HUF 14,000-25,000) available on the spot and in major ticket offices
www.filharmoniabp.hu (in English)
Conductors Courageous lecture
The international conference, “Arts in Society” is being held at ELTE, 24-26 June. Of note is the lecture Conductors Courageous: Sacred Music in Hungary during the Communist Era and the Leaders Who Took Risks to Perform It by Dr. Wayne Barrett of Sam Houston State University in the US.
He has maintained ongoing interests and relationships in Hungary since a visit in 1989, followed by a residency in 1991 that resulted in his dissertation on the choral music tradition in Hungarian Baptist churches.
“The amazing history of sacred music (of all denominations) in Hungary under communism has become a life interest, and Hungary a second home,” Barrett told this newspaper. “During Hungary’s communist era (1945-89), church musicians found ways to continue their art and expressions of faith. Their courage resulted in a rich, sustained culture of music and worship.”
Lecture
Conductors Courageous
ELTE, 24-26 June
Gólyavár Conference Center & Faculty of the Humanities, Múzeum krt. 6-8.
Tuesday, June 25, Room 7, 12.35 session
