What’s the connection between Nigel Kneale - author of Quatermass, Christine Collister – singer/songwriter, Prof. Martin Bridson FRS - Mathematician, Sir Charles Kerruish OBE - First President of Tynwald, Samantha Barks – Singer and actress, Peter Kennaugh MBE – Cyclist/Olympic gold medalist and Isle of Man Choral Society [IOMCS]? The answer is that all except IOMCS are famous alumni of St Ninian’s High School.
So why include IOMCS? Well since last September, IOMCS has hired the assembly hall at St Ninian’s, Douglas for its Thursday rehearsals for its next concert on 2nd April 2017 at the Royal Hall, Villa Marina, Douglas commencing at 2.30pm, which will see it perform works of Mendelssohn - Second Symphony “Hymn of Praise”, Mascagni - Easter Hymn from his wonderful opera Cavalleria Rusticana and one of the world’s finest living composers - John Rutter CBE whose Gloria will be sung. It seems that the Society is so happy with its new rehearsal facility that St Ninian’s will be its permanent home.
As normally happens at this concert, the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra led by Tom Field joins the Society and this year will be a first for the Society in that Maurice Powell, Musical Director of Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra will conduct the opening part of the Mendelssohn Second Symphony before Julian Power takes over to conduct the choir for The Hymn of Praise “Lobgesang” which forms the second part of Felix Mendelssohn’s equivalent of Beethoven’s Ninth, his “Choral” Symphony.
Mascagni’s Easter Hymn is a piece everyone knows and includes a second choir – Meadowside Choral Society which will sing from the circle near to the stage. This very romantic and operatic setting can hardly fail to rouse and stir the hearts even of those who may not share the Christian Faith.
Rutter’s Gloria is a modern setting of the Gloria in Excelsis from the Latin Mass. Many composers have set this movement of the service as an extended, stand-alone piece, perhaps because it is of a convenient length, is positive in content but also contains opportunities for contrasting moods in the music, and is not theologically too complicated. Perhaps most striking in Rutter’s setting are the effects of joyful bells pealing and fanfares of trumpets sounding which should send a tingle down the spine.
The soloists for this year’s Isle of Man Choral Society concert are Karen Elliott [soprano], Mandy Griffin [mezzo-soprano] and Richard Pollock [tenor] all of whom have sung before with the Society.
To end the concert Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra will play Mascagni’s Intermezzo under the baton of its Musical Director Maurice Powell. Truly a concert not to be missed.
The concert is again generously sponsored by Tower Insurance and the concert net profit will this year go to Manx Wildlife Trust.
Tickets for the concert can be obtained from the Villa Marina Box Office – Tel: 600555 or via the website www.villagaiety.com.
