Directed by Andrew Hopwood and Jonathan Trim
With the Capriol Chamber Orchestra
Join us for this powerful and rarely performed requiem by Luigi Cherubini, hailed by Schumann as “without equal in the world” and chosen by Beethoven for his own funeral.
As a fitting accompaniment to the requiem, the Capriol Chamber Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s popular Symphony No.5, before being re-joined by the choir for the first public performance of a beautiful new piece by Jonathan Trim. This composition is based on the poem by W.B. Yeats about the enchanting lake isle of Innisfree in Ireland.
This concert will be supporting Melanoma UK.
Doors open at 6.45pm for pre-concert drinks. Starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets £18.00 (18 and under free)
Available online from TicketSource
Box Office:0333 666 3366
Andrew Hopwood – Choral Director
Andrew spent much of his early singing career working between Opera North and Scottish Opera. In 2005 he came south to Gloucestershire and the teaching of singing became the focus of his work. Not that he has stopped singing professionally – far from it. He continues to sing Oratorio and concerts whenever asked, sharing the stage with artists such as James Gilchrist.
Jonathan Trim – Conductor, The Capriol Chamber Orchestra
Jonathan grew up in Stroud and studied Music at Birmingham. He teaches violin and viola and coaches ensembles and orchestras across Gloucestershire including the county youth orchestra, Stroud Symphony Orchestra and Capriol Chamber Orchestra.
He has been involved with National Children’s Orchestra coaching and conducting since 2009 and presently tutors for the Benedetti Foundation.
Several of Jonathan’s orchestral compositions have been performed widely including Celtic Fantasia for massed strings Heart of the Five Valleys, a musical depiction of the Cotswold landscape, and “Symphonia”, a musical response to the global pandemic and performed at the Stroud Arts Festival in 2021.
Jonathan was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 2015 for his contribution to the work of Rotary International.
The Capriol Chamber Orchestra
Capriol Chamber Orchestra is formed from a diverse group of people from many walks in life who enjoy playing a wide range of repertoire from Baroque to the present day. The orchestra presents three concerts a year in local churches within the Stroud area under the baton of Jonathan Trim. We encourage local soloists and composers whenever possible and are always interested in supporting local events. Winners of the Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year are regular soloists.
Experience the thrill of performing some of opera’s greatest choruses under the expert guidance of one of the finest chorus masters in the field.
Hosted by the Thames Head singers, this promises to be an unforgettable day of singing led by Piers Maxim, renowned former Chorus Master at Scottish Opera, La Monnaie (Brussels), and National Opera Company of Belgium to name but a few!
We will be accompanied throughout by Julian Elloway, also one of the finest in his field.
Choruses for the day will come from the following selection – Bizet’s March of the Toreadors (Carmen), Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances (Prince Igor), Mascagni’s Easter Hymn (Cavalliers Rusticana), Verdi’s Chorus of Scottish Refugees (Macbeth), Verdi’s Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco), Tchaikovsky’s Waltz scene (Eugene Onegin) and Handel’s Chorus of Enchanted Islanders (Alcina).
Throughout the day Piers will guide us through the pieces improving our operatic style and culminating in an informal performance to which all are welcome.
Tickets are available here priced £20 to include score hire if required (if you would like to bring your own score we will be using Oxford University Press, Opera Choruses by John Rutter).
All voices welcome – come and sing with us!
Details for the day
9.30 Registration, tea and coffee
10.15 Rehearsal
11.00 Tea, coffee and cake
11.15 Rehearsal
12.00 Break
12.15 Rehearsal
1.00 Lunch
2.00pm Afternoon rehearsal
3.30pm Tea break
4.00pm Informal performance
We would recommend bringing a packed lunch, alternatively there are several cafés and a pub nearby as well as a small grocery store.
The Church is fully accessible.
Entry to the afternoon performance is free with a retiring collection for charity – all welcome.
Directions and parking
There is free parking in Minchinhampton and on the common to the rear of the church.
Piers Maxim – Director of Music
Piers Maxim began his musical career as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral, moving on to study music at Clare College, Cambridge and the Guildhall in London.
He worked as conductor, assistant conductor and chorus master in the opera houses and theatres of Europe and for two years as Chorus Master of Scottish Opera, also assisting conductors such as Raymond Leppard and Sir Richard Armstrong.
From 1996 to 2012 he was Chef des Choeurs for the National Opera Company of Belgium, where he worked on over 40 operas, sometimes as Assistant Conductor to René Jacobs and sometimes conducting in his own right on performances of music by Handel, Gluck and Mozart. He made his debut in the USA conducting Die Zauberflöte in 2007 and in Beijing with Handel’s Semele in 2010.
His role as a conductor continued with his period band, The Pavilion Ensemble.
Piers is now Director of Music and Organist at Great Malvern Priory and Conductor of The Elgar Chorale and he gives organ recitals in cathedrals and other venues around the country.
Piers’ own compositions, including anthems and carols, have been published by the RSCM and in 2020 he recorded People Look East, an Advent and Christmas CD, with Great Malvern Priory choirs.
Julian Elloway – Accompanist
Julian Elloway studied piano in Oxford with Lucy Van-Jung Page, at the Guildhall School of Music with Cimbro Martin, and subsequently specialized in piano accompaniment with Paul Hamburger. At the age of 14 he played a Beethoven piano concerto in the Royal Festival Hall. He was organ scholar at Sussex University and worked in Brighton as keyboard player, choir conductor and répétiteur, before becoming Music Editor and Manager of the Music Department at Oxford University Press. He frequently appeared as organist, harpsichordist and pianist with the City of Oxford Orchestra and the Academy of Oxford, and became chorus master of the choirs associated with both orchestras.
Julian now lives in Minchinhampton where he works as a freelance musician and editor.
Save the date – we’re bringing the wonderful world of opera to the heart of the Cotswolds.
