Get ready for Bampton Classical Opera‘s annual festive concert in commemoration of the village’s patron Saint Beornwald on Saturday December 7.
The eclectic programme of music is based around two majestic works by Mozart and Poulenc for piano and wind, played by artistic director Jeremy Gray and the wind instruments of the Orchestra of Bampton Classical Opera.
Mozart’s beautiful quintet, for an unusual scoring, was considered by the composer at the time to be ‘the best thing I have written in my life’.
Poulenc’s trio, his first major chamber work, is noted for its depth of feeling, with touches of Mozartian flavour and echoes of other composers’ styles, while retaining its youthful verve.
Kieron-Connor Valentine and André Bertoncini, prize-winners in the 2023 Bampton Classical Opera Young Singers Competition, join them with songs and arias by the same composers, as well as a foray into some contrasting light music and Welsh songs, including Y Gwanwyn Du, I Dreamed a Dream (from ‘Les Misérables’), Paper Wings: A Route to the Sky and of course White Christmas to get us all in the festive spirit.
Jeremy Gray adds: “We are so pleased that Kieron-Connor and André, two of the superb prize-winners from our 2023 Young Singers’ Competition, are able to join us for the concert.”
“It should be a wonderful evening featuring a delightful mix of sublime and joyful chamber works and arias/songs by Poulenc and Mozart, as well as some popular favourites and a sprinkle of Christmas music”.
“I played both the Poulenc Trio and the Mozart Quintet in my student days, and have long wanted to revisit them, and this seemed the ideal opportunity.”
There will be mulled wine on hand both before the concert and in the interval to get everyone in the festive spirit..
Bampton Opera’s annual St Beornwald concert is at St Mary’s Church, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2LZ on Saturday December 7 at 7pm. Book at https://www.bamptonopera.org/index.htm#whats-on
