Past Concerts

Below is a list of the choir’s concert activity and repertoire since its name change to Valentine Singers in 1998.

1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |

1998

28th March 1998 ~ Songs from the Stage 

Included choruses from: Carmen, Mikado and Yeomen of the Guard, Show Boat, Fiddler on the Roof and Westside Story

14th June 1998 ~ Music for a Summer Evening     

Included: BRAHMS Zigeunerlieder, TIPPETT Five Negro Spirituals from A Child of our Time, GORECKI Amen and FAURÉ Cantique de Jean Racine
Soloists: Nikki Randell (soprano) and Chris Hogan (tenor)

17th October 1998 ~ Music of the Great Opera Composers

with the choir of Oaklands Preparatory School, director Anne Fradd.  Included music by MONTEVERDI, LULLY, PURCELL, HANDEL, GLUCK, MOZART, BELLINI, VERDI, WAGNER, BORODIN, BRITTEN, GERSHWIN

12th December 1998 ~ A Feast of Christmas Music    

Carols and other seasonal music for all the family plus RUTTER Brother Heinrich

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1999

21st March 1999* ~ HANDEL Messiah

parts 1,2,3 with some cuts. Accompanied by Aurelian Ensemble. In-house soloists plus Ian Lyon (baritone) and Peter Mc Geary (tenor) (9 soloists used in all).

May 1999 ~ Sung by invitation at Redbridge Green Fair

7th July 1999 ~ Music from the Stage 

Excerpts from MOZART Magic Flute, G&S Iolanthe, LEHAR Merry Widow and KERN Show Boat.  In-house soloists. 

13th November 1999 ~ PUCCINI Messa di Gloria, PARRY Blest Pair of Sirens, ELGAR Ave Verum and The Spirit of the Lord from the Apostles. 

In-house soloists plus Derek Maurice (tenor)
11th December 1999
An Evening of Christmas Music – telling the story of Christmas and moving on to New Year (Ring Out Wild Bells).  Spectrum Singers featured (first appearance)

December 1999 ~ Various charity carol singing events

(Exchange, Jubilee Lodge, Bald Hind)

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2000

9th April 2000* ~J S BACH St Matthew Passion

Accompanied by Aurelian Ensemble; ripieno choir sung by Spectrum Singers and members of VS. Soloists (13) ~ in house plus Bene’t Coldstream (tenor-Evangelist), Frances Cass (soprano), Mhairi Ellis (alto) and Rupert Jennings (tenor arias)

June 2000 ~ Redbridge Music Society Invitation Concert

Highlights from Show Boat and Merry Widow and items from forthcoming Opera Gala

23rd July 2000* ~ OPERA GALA 

featuring opera choruses by VERDI, WAGNER,BIZET, DONIZETTI, HUMPERDINCK, ROSSINI and TCHAIKOVSKY. In-house soloists plus Frances Cass (soprano) and David Menezes (tenor). Accompanied by Aurelian Ensemble; Spectrum Singers featured.

14th October 2000 ~ MESSIAH FOR HOSPICES 

Parts 2 and 3 of HANDEL Messiah in a workshop/sing-in event.  In-house soloists plus Matthew Butt (tenor) and John Evans (bass).

11th November 2000* ~ MOZART EVENING: Kyrie in D minor, Exsultate Jubilate, Oboe Concerto, Requiem

Soloists: Sylvia Harper (oboe), Jenny Haxell (soprano), Mhairi Ellis (alto), Bene’t Coldstream (tenor) and John Evans (bass) with The Aurelian Ensemble.

16th December 2000 ~ A Christmas Journey.

December 2000 ~ Various charity carol singing events

(Exchange, Bald Hind)  

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2001

February 2001 ~ Informal performance afternoon at Valentine’s Mansion,

by invitation. Items from forthcoming concert.

31st March 2001 ~ A World of Song

A programme of a cappella works from around the world.  Included part-songs and motets by PITONI, LOTTI, VECCHI, MORLEY, BYRD, TALLIS, STANFORD and ELGAR plus folk music including TIPPETT Five Negro Spirituals from A Child of our Time and Five American Folk Songs arr. RUNSWICK

21st July 2001 ~ All at Sea

A programme of music with a nautical theme including excerpts from G&S HMS Pinafore and BIZET The Pearl Fishers, opera choruses by Puccini, Handel and Wagner, traditional songs and shanties and Sit down, sit down you’re rocking the boat from Guys and Dolls

28th July 2001 ~ All at Sea on tour.

Wivenhoe, in aid of the Wivenhoe Shipyard Project

10th November 2001 My Spirit Sang all Day 

Music for choir and organ including PARRY I was glad, HANDEL Zadok the Priest, FINZI My spirit sang all day

15th December 2001 ~ Christmas Music with Spectrum Singers

December 2001 ~ Various charity carol singing events

(Exchange, Two Brewers)    

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2002

16th March 2002* ~ Italian Evening

MONTEVERDI Beatus Vir, BLACKFORD Mirror of Perfection, VIVALDI Gloria - accompanied by orchestra (Aurelian Ensemble)  Spectrum Singers plus soloists: Claire Bowman & Matthew Wright;  Elizabeth Menezes, Sarah Ownsworth, June Yexley with a specially engaged orchestra.

29th June 2002 ~ 75 Years of Music  

A  highly varied programme to reflect the church’s anniversary celebrations, from classical ‘greats’ to the hits of GERSHWIN and the BEATLES!

27th July ~ 3rd August ~ Concert Tour ~ Lake Garda, Italy  

Unaccompanied sacred and secular repertoire.
2002    Performances: San Alessandro, Riva - morning mass and recital; San Pietro in Malvino, Sirmione – informal recital; San Marco, Venice - evening mass; Bezzecca church – concert; Savoy Palace Hotel - concert.

9th November 2002 ~ GOUNOD Messe Sollennelle de Ste Cécile, MOZART Coronation Mass and Laudate Dominum 

Soloists: Jenny Haxell, Mhairi Ellis, Bene’t Coldstream, Paul Charrier; organist: David Sheppard

14th December 2002 ~ Christmas Music with Spectrum Singers

Britten A Ceremony of Carols. Harp - Rachel Bartels, Flute/sax - Ken Bartles, Piano - Tim Smith, Organ - David Sheppard

December 2002 ~ Various charity carol singing events

(Ilford National Trust, Gearies Infant School, Exchange)

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2003 

5th April 2003* ~ GABRIELI In Ecclesiis, BRAHMS Fours Songs for women’s voices, horns and harp, BERNSTEIN Chichester Psalms, FAURÉ Requiem with Aurelian Orchestra

Soloists: Frances Cass, Biraj Barkakaty, Matthew Butt, John Evans 
5th July 2003
Opera Scenes. Excerpt from BIZET Carmen; PUCCINI Suor Angelica; GLIBERT & SULLIVAN Pirates of Penzance. Christine Greig -  Piano.  Soloists selected from open audition

19th July 2003 ~ Summer by the Seaside.

Extracts from BIZET Carmen and GILBERT & SULLIVAN Pirates of Penzance, plus motets, part-songs and arrangements of popular songs. Lillian Bailey - Piano.

20th July 2003 ~ Tour to Sussex and Hampshire

Concert at St Leonard’s, Aldrington, Hove; Morning Service at St Nicholas' Church, Wickham, Hants
Performance at party: popular songs

4th October 2003 ~ Hospices in Harmony event -

workshop and performance of music for voices and piano duet by BRAHMS and SCHUBERT, including excerpts from BRAHMS Requiem. Tim Smith and Christine Gwynn - piano

19th October 2003 ~ Memorial and Thanksgiving Service for West & Coe

(through RS Live event management company)

1st November 2003 ~ Autumn Serenade - music for recreation:

from Schubert to the stage and screen including SCHUBERT Four partsongs; GOODALL The Lord is My Shepherd; madrigals and arrangements of popular songs. Tim Smith - piano

13th December 2003 ~ Christmas Concert with Spectrum Singers youth choir.

Tim Smith - piano; David Sheppard - organ

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2004

6th March 2004* ~ MOZART Kyrie in d; BRAHMS Ein Deutches Requiem.

Soprano - Claire Bowman; Baritone - John Evans
Aurelian Ensemble

Saturday 19th June  All Abroad

August 2004 ~ Tour to Umbria and Tuscany

Concert - S. Agostino, Montepulciano ; Mass & recital - Duomo, Perugia;  outdoor concert – Passignano; concert – S. Domenico, Cortona; Mass – Duomo, Siena; Concert of lighter music – Hotel Cavalieri

September 2004 Concert with Il Baluardo from Lucca, Italy

Ilford Hospital Chapel

13th November 2004 ~ DVORAK  Mass in D and SCHUBERT Mass in F

St John's Buckhurst Hill.  In-house soloists, David Sheppard - organ

11th December 2004 ~ Christmas Concert with Spectrum Singers

St Bede's Church, Chadwell Heath  Tim Smith – piano, Richard Nott - organ

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2005

Saturday 22nd January 2005 ~ Elijah Workshop!

Saturday 12th March*~ MENDELSSOHN Elijah

Soloists: Maya Kasir, Suzanne Higgins, Bene't Coldstream, John Llewelyn Evans and Jonathan Sheppard (treble)   

Saturday 16th July 2005 ~ Summer Time

BARBER LAURIDSEN, TIPPETT, GERSHWIN, Tim Smith – piano

Saturday 30th July ~ Sunday 31st July 2005 ~ Weekend Concert Tour in East Anglia

Concert – St Catherine’s, Ludham; Sung Eucharist - St George, Coleman, Norwich; Outdoor concert – Rookery Farm, Metfield

Saturday 12th November 2005 ~ VERDI Pater Noster and ROSSINI Petite Messe Solennelle

Soloists: Elizbateh Menezes, Morag Boyle, David Menezes, Paul Charrier Martin
Piano – Tim Smith; Harmonium - David Sheppard

Saturday 10th December 2005 ~ Christmas Music for all the Family with Spectrum Singers youth choir.

Tim Smith - piano; David Sheppard - organ

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2006

Saturday 28th January 2006 ~ Missa Solemnis workshop day at Barnardo's Church 

Saturday 25th March 2006 ~ BEETHOVEN Missa Solemnis

with Aurelian Ensemble at All Saints' Church, Woodford Wells
Soloists: Lianne-Marie Skriniar, Morag Boyle, Bene’t Coldstream, Paul Sheehan

Saturday 17th June 2006 ~ Water Music

for voices and piano including  LAMBERT, Rio Grande at Barnardo's Church
Pianists: Tim Smith and Lilian Bailey

Saturday 1st July ~ SING! An ENO Baylis project at the London Coliseum

VECCHI Fa una canzona and BARNBY Sweet and low plus massed items, including première of RICHARD TAYLOR – genesis.

3rd-12th August 2006 ~ Tour to Lucca in Northern Tuscany

Concert with Coro Il Baluardo - Santo Sepulcro, Pisa; Mass - S. Maria Corteor Landini, Lucca; concert Ss. Giovanni E Reparata, Lucca; concert - San Gaetano, Firenze; Concert - Hotel Country Club, Gragnano, Lucca; concert with Coro Il Baluardo - Convento S. Francesco, Borgo A Mozzano

Saturday 4th November 2006 ~ As Time Goes By

including Richard Taylor – genesis. Barnardo's Church.  Tim Smith - piano

Saturday 16th December 2006 ~ Christmas music for all the family

with Spectrum Singers youth choir. Tim Smith - piano; David Sheppard - organ

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2007

Saturday 28th January 2007 ~ St Matthew Passion workshop day

Barnardo's Church

Saturday 31st March 2007 ~ J S BACH St Matthew Passion

accompanied by the Jericho Players with Spectrum Singers (ripieno chorus)
All Saints' Church, Woodford Wells
Evangelist: Bene’t Coldstream; Jesus: Edmund Connolly
Other soloists: Frances Chilvers, Morag Boyle, David Menezes, Paul Sheehan

Saturday 28th April 2007 ~ Open Workshop ~ Opera Scenes

Saturday 30th June 2007 ~ Opera Scenes
GILBERT and SULLIVAN HMS Pinafore; MASCAGNI Cavaleria Rusticana; PURCELL Dido and Aeneas
Soloists selected from open audition

28th-29th July 2007 ~ Tour to Ely, Thetford and Godmanchester

Concert – Ely cathedral, lady chapel; concert – St cuthbert’s, Thetford; concert – St Mary’s, Godmanchester

Saturday 3rd November ~ PARRY I was glad; ELGAR Give unto the Lord; KODALY Laudes Organi & Missa Brevis

Saturday 15 December Christmas Concert with Tim Smith (piano) and David Sheppard (organ)

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2008

Saturday 19th January Open workshop:

Elgar The Music Makers and Walton Belshazzar’s Feast   Barnardo’s

 Saturday 15th March 10th Anniversary concert:

Vaughan Williams O clap your hands, Elgar The Music Makers and Walton Belshazzar’s Feast     St Gabriel’s Aldersbrook, with Morag Boyle (contralto), Paul Sheehan (baritone) and Aurelian Symphony Orchestra

Sunday 10th July Birthday Party Concert

with Tim Smith, piano and guest pianists Caroline Finlay and Lilian Bailey

Saturday 1st November  Duruflé Requiem, Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine plus other French music 

St Gabriel’s Aldersbrook, with Morag Boyle (contralto) and David Sheppard (organ)

Saturday 13th December  A Dream of Christmas

with Spectrum Singers plus Tim Smith (piano) and David Sheppard (organ)

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2009

Saturday 24th January Open workshop: Haydn The Creation

Saturday 28th March Haydn The Creation   

All Saints Woodford Wells with Lianne-Marie Skriniar (soprano), Bene’t Coldstream (tenor) and Paul Sheehan (bass) and the Aurelian Symphony Orchestra

Saturday 4th July  An American Evening

including A Gershwin Portrait plus music by Barber, Lauridsen and Bernstein  with Tim Smith (piano)

Saturday 14th November Thames Link

A voyage along the Thames in words and music including Vaughan Williams In Windsor Forest, Handel My heart is inditing and Chilcott Songs and cries of London Town

Saturday 12th December Bethlehem Down Music for the Christmas season

with Spectrum Singers plus Tim Smith (piano), David Sheppard (organ), Jonathan Sheppard (trumpet) and Peter Sheppard (timps)

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