Head's Newsletter 7 October 2016

MUSIC

On Sunday 25 th September the choir trebles were back on duty at the Royal Festival Hall singing Stravinsky’s Perséphone with the London Philharmonia Orchestra and Philharmonia Voices, under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen . One of Stravinsky’s most rarely heard works, Perséphone was originally conceived as a stage production with the text based on an old Greek myth. The melodrama-recitation role of Perséphone was beautifully portrayed by native French speaker, Pauline Chevaller, and the tenor part was sung by Andrew Staples, who will be remembered by many of us for his past performances in Tiffin Oratorio. The boys should be applauded for their rapid learning of the French text, a challenge for those studying German rather than French, and committing it to memory. Positive reviews include: ‘Still younger, of course, were the 28 members of Tiffin Boys‘ Choir, from the Kingston upon Thames school of that name, all attired in their distinctive striped uniform, and lending extra vocal colour to the top line when the score asks for it.’ Alan Sanders, Seen and Heard International

CROWN COURT SERVICE On 3 rd October the choir sang at the annual Crown Court service at All Saints Church, Kingston. The service marks the formal beginning of the annual start of the Crown Court’s year and is attended by the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and the Judges of the Crown Court wearing full ceremonial dress. Students from local schools led and joined in the prayers with the choir singing the Introit, Psalm and Anthem. The service was led by the Reverend Jonathan Wilkes and a thoughtful sermon on the importance of traditions in our own lives was delivered by the Reverend Ken Walker, Minister of the John Bunyan Baptist Church.