Summer Concert 2014

 

Following their joint concert featuring Alexander L’Estrange’s Zimbe! in June 2012 in the Parish Church, and having joined forces with them in Liverpool for a concert in the Anglican Cathedral, the Royal Free Singers were glad to welcome the G:Force Gospel Choir back to Windsor for a third joint venture. The audience enjoyed a cocktail of music for a summer evening featuring songs in a variety of styles and traditions including gospel (of course), jazz, folk, end of the pier show and musical theatre, featuring the suite from Les Miserables.

G:Force, the Formby Arts College Gospel Choir, includes teachers, students, friends, family & colleagues making a truly inter-generational choir! Its repertoire covered many contemporary and classic gospel songs, including student-composed originals and new commissions.

Spanish Tour - Choir Picture

Another great RFS tour!

At the vineyard

Lunch is served

Final concert in Toledo

Bach: St John Passion

The Royal Free Singers Spring Concert: April 12th, 2014

The earlier of Bach’s two surviving settings of the Gospel Passion narrative, the St John Passion is perhaps less well-known than the larger scale St Matthew Passion but it is in many ways the more audacious and original.  The first performance was on Good Friday, 7 April 1724, in Saint Nicholas Church, Leipzig.  After the Magnificat (first performed the preceding Christmas) it was his first large scale work since being appointed Cantor for the Leipzig churches in 1723.

The work consists of the Gospel text (narrated in recitative by a tenor representing the Evangelist, with other solo voices taking the parts of Christ, Pilate, Peter and the High Priest’s servants, and the choir those of the priests, disciples, soldiers and the crowd), ten reflective arias and a set of eleven reflective Lutheran Chorales, the whole being framed by two large scale choruses.

The Royal Free Singers were joined by professional soloists and accompanied by a professional orchestra - a truly memorable performance.

Autumn Concert 2013

The Glory of Venice 

To round off their 40^th anniversary year, the Royal Free Singers gave a concert of 15^th and 16th century music from Italy, featuring works by the Venetian masters Giovanni Gabrieli (O Magnum Mysterium and In Ecclesiis), Claudio Monteverdi (Beatus Vir), Tomaso Albinoni (Magnificat) and Antonio Vivaldi (Gloria), works which would undoubtedly have been performed in San Marco, making full use of its sonorous acoustic, and from Rome the celebrated Miserere by Gregorio Allegri.  

40 Years - Our Greatest Hits concert!

 

The Royal Free Singers  40th Anniversary!  It all began in 1973 when Ben Gunner suggested to a small group of parents, at what was then the Royal Free School in Windsor, that they should form a choir.  It has grown over the years, with Ben still leading the choir, into the group you will see today, well known as a first class local choir performing a wide range of works to delight audiences. At this concert, the singers performed a selection of their 'Greatest Hits', from the very first thing they sang in 1973, 'All through the Night', followed by musical treats from Mozart, Bach, Fauré and many more.

Mendelssohn - St Paul

Royal Free Singers 

Anniversary Concert 2013 

 

Felix Mendelssohn, born in 1809, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Recognised for his talent at an early age, he was instrumental in reviving interest in the music of JS Bach. Composition of his work 'Saint Paul' began in 1834, and it was premiered in 1836. His admiration for the work of Bach is evident in this work.  

The text is based very largely on the Acts of the Apostles, with the three main themes being the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the conversion of St. Paul and the apostle’s subsequent missionary life. Mendelssohn, like St. Paul, was a convert from Judaism to Christianity so the text undoubtedly had a strong personal meaning for him.  Today St. Paul is performed less often than Elijah, but it ranks among the principal oratorios of the 19th century. 

Now rarely performed, the Royal Free Singers provided a marvellous opportunity to come and hear this great oratorio, in the beautiful, historic surroundings of Eton College School Hall, conducted by Ben Gunner and accompanied by the Orchestra of London.

'A wonderful evening - why do we not hear this great work more often?'

 

The Royal Free Singers gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the Prince Philip Trust Fund and the Royal Albert Institute in staging this concert.

Handel's Messiah

Autumn concert

Handel's Messiah needs little introduction, being one of his most well known and well loved choral works. Numerous performances and 'Come and Sing' opportunities have made this a particular favourite with choirs and audiences alike. Handel composed 'Messiah' in 1741 based on the libretto by Charles Jennens, who edited Shakespeare's plays. This performance gave the audience a chance to hear this marvellous work again, or perhaps to hear it for the first time, performed by the Royal Free Singers, with a professional orchestra and soloists: Bruce Russell, Alexander L'Estrange, Nick Pritchard and Jenny Stafford.

Ben Gunner, our conductor, was delighted by the choir's performance:
It was great last night – you upped everything and you must and should feel very pleased with yourselves.  Members of the orchestra and soloists commented what an excellent sound you produced and what an exciting and rhythmic performance It was.  Other remarks to me from both the choir and audience alike included such words as 'fantastic night', 'excellent  Messiah', 'terrific Messiah', 'very exhilarating' and I too thought you were positively fizzing.  So, very well done. You brought so much pleasure to so many people last night, not least me.