Free concert
Details
The OU Choir celebrates the birthdays of composers Sir John Rutter and Bob Chilcott in a free summer concert on 3rd July on the Walton Hall campus. Marking the 80th birthday of Sir John Rutter and the 70th birthday of Bob Chilcott, the concert includes Rutter's arrangement of seven spirituals Feel the Spirit and Chilcott's Ophelia, Caliban and Miranda.
Ophelia, Caliban and Miranda is Chilcott's jazzy setting of three poems by Charles Bennett which takes a contemporary and witty look at three Shakespeare characters. The piece is accompanied by piano with saxophone, bass and drums.
Rutter's Feel the spirit is a set of arrangements of seven well-known spirituals, for mezzo soprano soloist, choir and accompaniment, in this instance a chamber ensemble. The concert also includes another piece by Rutter, Two Blessings for harp and chamber orchestra , a pair of meditations on two of Rutter’s own choral compositions. These are unpublished arrangements and Rutter has graciously provided The Open University Choir with scores specifically for this concert.
The Choir will be accompanied by the Cantoribus Ensemble, together with saxophonist Paul Taverner, harpist Lizzie Peacock, and mezzo soprano Jo Churcher. The concert will be conducted by Dennis Pim.
Book tickets
Admission to the concert is free and open to all . Tickets can be booked in advance via Eventbrite at:
We can meet up before the concert in the cafe next to the theatre for lunch or a snack, and possibly for a drink after the concert. We'll organise that nearer the time.
Free concert